Prospect Bio

Malik Willis began his career down at Auburn with Gus Malzahn. Playing behind Jarrett Stidham his first two years limited Willis’s play, only appearing in 12 games and attempting just 14 passes. Once Stidham graduated, Willis was in line for the starting job. However, Bo Nix’s arrival on campus created competition. Nix’s eventual win landed Willis in the transfer portal, where he chose to play for Hugh Freeze at Liberty.

Willis sat out his third year due to transfer rules. Becoming the starter at Liberty his junior year, Willis led all FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards in 2020. Willis led Liberty to a 10-1 record, including a win in the Cure Bowl over Coastal Carolina. In his final season at Liberty, Willis finished second to Louisville’s Malik Cunningham in 2021 in rushing yards amongst quarterbacks. The Flames went 8-5 with a bowl victory over Eastern Michigan in Willis’s final collegiate season. Willis finished his two years as Liberty’s starter with over 5,000 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, 18 interceptions, and over 1,800 rushing yards.

College Stats

Malik Willis College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference.com

Positives

+ Most physically gifted quarterback in class

+ Big play capability; eye for big play

+ Big-time arm

+ Can be accurate when throwing on the run

+ Sharp release

+ Great athlete

+ Noted leader

+ Capable of running a high-tempo offense

Negatives

– Can get into trouble when trying to make the spectacular play

– Tends to hold onto the ball for too long

– Inconsistent with ball placement

– Can miss opportunities when flushed out of pocket

– Completed just 62.8% of attempts

– 21.3 breakout age (33rd-percentile, PlayerProfiler)

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: Size/college metrics of Tyrod Taylor with the arm, rushing capability and upside of Josh Allen

NFL Draft Projection: 1st-2nd Round

Bottom Line:

Malik Willis enters the draft as the most raw quarterback in the class, but also offers the most upside. Willis has a rocket arm and is extremely mobile, but his willingness to extend plays can lead to trouble. Ideally, Willis would be able to sit and learn from a veteran with the opportunity to start in a few years. Malik Willis as a dynasty rookie could come off the board first in super-flex leagues given his rushing upside. Willis’s destination will play a crucial role in his development. An up-tempo offense with designed quarterback runs would be ideal, similar to the role we have seen recently with Josh Allen and the Bills.

Post Draft Analysis:

Malik Willis experienced the ultimate free-fall of the 2022 draft. He lands with the Titans in the third round. It was expected that he would go to a team where he would either become a first-year starter or at least be the obvious long-term guy (a la Trey Lance). The Titans present neither of those scenarios. Sure, he could become the guy to replace Ryan Tannehill at some point, but the situation is far less clear than had he gone in the first round to Detroit, Carolina, Pittsburgh, or Atlanta. Willis was the pre-draft superflex rookie 1.02 with some consideration at 1.01 and a mid-second rounder in single-quarterback leagues. There is no way we can draft him in those spots now.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade