One of the biggest questions going into last weekend was whether Liberty quarterback Malik Willis could outshine Matt Corral and come away as the clear cut number one quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Willis was unable to shine against the Rebels and has left scouts with plenty of questions about his game.
Along with taking a look at some concerns NFL teams still have with Malik Willis this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also takes a look at the following:
- Whose NFL stock is rising and falling
- An area where Matt Corral impressed scouts last week
- Why Kenny Pickett would be an ideal fit in New Orleans
- And much more
Plenty Left to Prove
Going into last weekend’s game against Ole Miss, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was regarded as one of the top two quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was regarded as a high first-round pick as well, with several mock drafts having Willis going in the top ten of the NFL Draft. Some of these mock drafts included Pro Football Network which had him going seventh overall to Washington and 247 Sports which projected him to go number two to the Houston Texans.
However, he did not live up to this billing vs. the Rebels, throwing three interceptions and for only 173 yards on the day. He also showed several weaknesses that will likely scare scouts away from taking him in the top ten. Some of these concerns included trouble reading defenses, feeling uncomfortable in the pocket and a lack of overall accuracy.
The biggest concern scouts will likely have with Willis is his ability to read defenses. This issue arose in a couple of different ways in his last game including throwing three interceptions on the day, which is the third time in the past five games he has thrown three picks in a game. It also hurt him at times by forcing him to hang onto the ball too long which is one of the reasons he was sacked a total of nine times on the day.
His high sack total raises another question as well which is his poor pocket presence. While part of this has to be put on Liberty’s below-average offensive line, Willis also needs to shoulder some of the blame. For example, on several occasions, he easily could have stepped up in the pocket and found an open receiver but instead panicked and either ran with the ball or took a sack.
The last issue that makes him a risky first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is his lack of overall accuracy. While he has the arm strength to make the highlight throw down the field he lacks the accuracy to deliver in this situation play after play. Part of the reason he struggles with his consistency is his poor footwork, which he will hopefully improve on at the next level.
These questions raise the question of how good of an NFL quarterback he will be at the next level, and the answer to this question all depends on the coach he plays for at the next level. If he can go to a team who is willing to build their offense around him similar to how the Baltimore Ravens changed their style of play to fit Lamar Jackson’s game he will likely become a solid starter in the NFL. However, if he is asked to run a traditional NFL offense he will likely struggle to become a proficient quarterback.
Devin Lloyd, MLB, Utah
Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd was Pro Football Focus’ defensive player of the week for a good reason. In his game against Stanford, he recorded nine tackles in just 42 snaps. He also came away with a pick six and sack on the night. This was far from Llyod’s first big game of the season either as he already has 81 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions on the year.
David Bell, WR, Purdue
One of the most dominant receivers in college football this season has been Purdue’s David Bell. So far this season he has five games with over 100 yards receiving and his second game of over 200 receiving yards. This includes his 11 reception 217-yard day against Michigan State last Saturday. As a prospect Bell shows impressive route-running skills and might be the most polished receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
A prospect who will give David Bell a run for his money as the most dominant receiver in college football is Jahan Dotson of Penn State. Dotson has been the go-to receiver for the Nittany Lions the past two seasons, and he had his best performance of his career on Saturday. Against Maryland, he hauled in 11 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns, which broke the school record for receiving yards in a game.
Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
One of the biggest reasons why North Carolina was able to knock off Wake Forest last weekend was the play of running back Ty Chandler. Chandler finished the day rushing for 213 yards and four touchdowns. He helped out in the passing game as well hauling in one pass for 30 yards. While Chandler will likely fall to the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft his vision, balance, and ability to return picks could make a contributor in the NFL next season.
Kaleb Eleby, QB, Western Michigan
Going into the season Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby was billed as one of the Group of Five quarterbacks to watch, but unfortunately, he has not lived up to this hype. So far this season he has only completed 61% of his passes which is not the type of efficiency you want to see from a passer who is only 6-foot-1 and lacks great mobility. At this point in time, it would be in his best interest to return to Western Michigan next season, as he currently carries a priority free agent grade for some.
Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
Another quarterback who would be best off by returning to college next season is Kedon Slovis. However, it might be Slovis’ best interest to transfer to another school where he can have a fresh start after a poor 2021 season and one where he might lose his starting job to Jaxson Dart. If Slovis is going to bounce back next season regardless of where he is playing he is going to have to cut down on his interceptions.
Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama
A player who might be hurt more by the situation than lack of talent is Alabama running back Brian Robinson. After sitting behind Najee Harris last season, this season was supposed to be Brian Robinson’s big season. However, this year he has had to play behind an average offensive line and in an offense that gives up on the running game way too early. If Alabama is going to win another National Championship this year they are going to have to realize what they have in Robinson, which is a downhill physical runner.
- One of the main reasons Nebraska was able to keep it close with Ohio State was the play of their defense. One of the leaders of this defense was linebacker Jojo Domann who finished the day with nine tackles and one crucial interception. This interception displayed the coverage ability that helps make Domann one of the most versatile linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Along with his ability to make plays in the passing game, he also is an outstanding run defender and has shown he knows how to get after the passer as well. His overall well-rounded game should make him great day three value pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
How many LBs make this INT?! 😱@TheDomannator // @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/tko7lBRp9f
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 6, 2021
- Two integinables stood out with Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in his game vs. Liberty. One of these was his toughness. He played most of this game with a poor ankle that limited his mobility yet still gutted out a strong performance. Another area that stood out with him was his leadership ability. On numerous occasions, he was coaching up his teammates on the sideline and displaying the overall grittiness you want from your starting quarterback.
- According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, it sounds like Texas A&M offensive guard Kenyon Green will enter the 2022 NFL Draft. This should not come as a surprise as Green currently carries a first-round grade on my board, and was an All-American last season. What makes Green a first-round prospect is his combination of explosiveness and overall strength.
- Two late round defensive back prospects who have been ballhawks recently are Montana’s Justin Ford, and Appalachian State’s Steven Jones Jr. Ford has recorded an interception in seven straight games, while Jones recorded three pick-sixes last week vs Arkansas State. Ford might be the more intriguing prospect among the two as the junior corner has the size NFL teams love coming in at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds.
- While the 2022 NFL Draft does not have any small school quarterbacks anywhere nearly as talented as Trey Lance, it does have a prospect putting up impressive numbers. That player is Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley. In his latest game against Incarnate Word, he threw for 647 yards which is the sixth time he has thrown for over 350 yards in a game.
- A player who would be an ideal fit in the New York Jets defense is Florida CB Kaiir Elam. He has the size to fit the Jets press cover 2 defense and fits with what coach Robert Saleh looks for in his corners. He has also been outstanding in press coverage while at Florida not allowing a single reception in press coverage the first three weeks of the season. If the Jets are to select him though they will definitely need to take him with one of their two first-round picks.
- Speaking of good matches on the offensive side of the ball, an ideal match would be Kenny Pickett going to the New Orleans Saints. This fit makes sense as Sean Payton want a quarterback who consistently makes smart decisions, and gets the ball to his playmakers. This is the exact type of quarterback he would be getting in Kenny Pickett who has completed 68% of his passes this season and has only thrown three picks on the season.
- Denver Broncos General Manager George Paton was in attendance for the Ole Miss-Liberty game. He was likely in attendance to see quarterbacks Malik Willis and Matt Corral, who the team could consider taking early in the 2022 NFL Draft. While it would be a major reach to take either of these players in the top 20, either player would make sense with one of the team’s two second-round picks.
- One prospect Minnesota Viking fans may want to keep an eye on is Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum would make sense for the team as they will likely upgrade the position this offseason since Garrett Bradbury has had his struggles this season and Mason Cole will be a free agent after the season.