We didn’t anticipate many quarterbacks to be selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, but it is a little surprising to see just one passer go off the board — with Pitt Panthers product Kenny Pickett partnering with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickett was widely considered the safest quarterback in the draft class, and NFL teams supported that thinking through their actions on Thursday night.
Still, there are other passers who expect to go off the board quickly on Friday during the second and third rounds. One of them being Liberty signal-caller Malik Willis. Willis has the highest ceiling of any rookie in the group thanks to his immense physical tools, high football IQ, and charismatic leadership qualities. But the college offense he played in (and, frankly, the low level of competition he faced) did little to develop his skills as a passer, so he’s going to need time to polish his mechanics and get more comfortable surveying the field to attack all levels of the defense.
Frankly, there might not be a better fit for him than New Orleans. Willis would slot in as the understudy for Jameis Winston with Andy Dalton poised to step in should Winston miss time with another injury. Willis wouldn’t be pressured to start games before he’s ready or win over a locker room. Saints quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry could spend the year working with him while Winston focuses on leading New Orleans back to the playoffs — much like Alex Smith did with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to Patrick Mahomes’ emergence as one of the best football players on the planet.
