The 2021 NFL draft recently came to a close with the three-day event wrapping things up on Saturday in Cleveland. While Liberty did not see a single player selected during this year’s draft, that is likely to change next year. The Flames are loaded with talent and have every intention on building off the best season in school history in 2020 when Liberty won 10 games and finished ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season.
Malik Willis has been getting a lot of love over the past few days in the early look ahead to next year’s draft. Here’s a round-up of where some of these way-too-early 2022 NFL Draft projections have the Liberty star quarterback being selected:
1st round, No. 1 overall, Detroit Lions – Pro Football Network
“Malik Willis is a massive sleeper in next year’s QB class, and he has the natural talent to pace his position. A former Auburn commit, he emerged with the Liberty Flames in 2020, throwing for 2,260 yards, 20 scores, and 6 interceptions. he also ran for 944 yards and 14 scores.”
“Willis is an elite athlete at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, and he also has tantalizing arm talent and off-script ability. On top of that, he’s a humble, hard-working player, and he’s sure to pass character evaluations if he works his way into the QB1 conversation.”
1st round, No. 2 overall, Detroit Lions – Sports Illustrated
“If Detroit is picking this high, it means quarterback Jared Goff was a product of Rams head coach Sean McVay’s system. Willis is the perfect quarterback for today’s NFL. He has a gun for an arm and is a phenomenal athlete. Willis can work outside of structure and is a playmaker. He has the ability to elevate his teammates and has been very impressive at Liberty.”
1st round, No. 6 overall, Philadelphia Eagles – The Athletic
“Jalen Hurts has a “prove it” season coming up, and if he doesn’t take command of QB1, then the Eagles will likely be in position to draft a different quarterback in the top 10. If the draft were tomorrow, Willis probably isn’t a first-round pick. But if he makes key improvements, scouts believe he could climb this high.”
1st round, No. 10 overall, Washington Football Team – Yahoo Sports
“Ryan Fitzpatrick only has so many years left in him. None of the other options on Washington’s roster are realistic long-term starters, either. It’s got to be a quarterback. The 2022 QB class is seemingly weak, but Willis’ size, speed, and arm talent make him one of the best candidates to rise through the process. If Willis can clean up the accuracy a bit and shave a tick off some of his processing, he may well be the first or second QB off the board when it’s all said and done.”
1st round, No. 10 overall, Carolina Panthers – CBS Sports
“Willis is going to (be) fun to watch — he has a rocket arm, threw for more than 2,200 yards and rushed for 940 more. And if the Panthers aren’t sold on Sam Darnold, they too could be back in the QB business.”
1st round, No. 12 overall, Atlanta Falcons – NBC Sports
“The Falcons did the right thing by taking Kyle Pitts instead of a quarterback this year, but by next it’ll be time to start thinking about finding a successor to Matt Ryan, who’ll be 37 when the 2022 season begins. Willis is an intriguing two-way QB who’ll be ready to play whenever Ryan retires.”
1st round, No. 12 overall, Carolina Panthers – NJ.com
1st round, No. 14 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers – Bleacher Report
“Liberty’s Malik Willis isn’t a household name. But he’ll likely become one as the 2021 season progresses.”
