There is a lot of buzz around top 2022 NFL Draft prospect Malik Willis and that might not be a good thing for the Washington Commanders.
The Washington Commanders are on the hunt for a new quarterback – that’s no secret. They could be going after a veteran via free agency or a trade. However, there are quite a few intriguing prospects coming up in the NFL Draft as well. One of those quarterback prospects is Malik Willis – and the hype train for him is at full-speed right now.
That might not be a good thing for Washington.
Not everyone is sold on Willis, but it feels like there are more Commanders fans that want him than those that don’t. And he’s only impressed since the end of the season. Willis was phenomenal at the Senior Bowl. Now he’s killing it at the combine which included an absolute dime of a throw.
Analysts everywhere are starting to compare him to someone like Josh Allen. That’s hefty.
So why is all this bad news for the Commanders? It’s pretty simple – his draft stock is rising. This isn’t me saying Washington shouldn’t take him at 11 because it would be a mistake. This is me saying suddenly Willis might not be available at 11.
If Washington wants to take Malik Willis, they might need to move up in the draft. Especially considering how many teams need new quarterbacks.
Already ahead of them, you have the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos. All those teams wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they went after a QB in the draft.
Then teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints could move up. There are a few other teams that might be looking for a QB as well. Especially considering teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers might be losing their stars at the position.
The good news is, things are still in motion. A few teams might not go after a QB. There are some teams on that list with solid options already on their roster – but might want to go for an upgrade or get younger. At the same time, free agency is still on the table and some of those teams might fill the gap that way.
However, Washington should be possibly the most desperate team on this list when it comes to a QB.
Some of these teams already have good options on their roster. Others are in complete rebuild mode. The Commanders don’t have a true starter right now. But they aren’t in rebuild mode. Outside of a few holes that need to be filled, this is a pretty complete team. They could easily be a playoff team with a good QB – and maybe even make a Super Bowl run if they get a great one.
With that in mind, it’s important for Washington to get their man. And luckily for them, they have plenty of options.
But there is a reason people are so intrigued by Malik Willis. The potential is through the roof, and with the right coaching staff and team around him, he could be molded from clay into a superstar. Is he the perfect guy for Washington? Maybe, maybe not. He might not even be their number one option in the draft, and that’s not even counting the free agent and trade possibilities.
It’s great that Malik Willis is getting a lot of attention and the hype around him is building. However, it might not be good news for the Washington Commanders. If they really want Willis, they might not be able to stay at number 11.