ESPN makes prediction for Malik Willis’ rookie season
ESPN writers from around the nation recently came together to assess and predict the future of the top rookie quarterbacks in the NFL. Among them was Tennessee Titans rookie Malik Willis. Coming out of Liberty University, Willis was widely thought to be the top quarterback, and potential a top 10 overall prospect in the 2022 […]
ESPN writers from around the nation recently came together to assess and predict the future of the top rookie quarterbacks in the NFL. Among them was Tennessee Titans rookie Malik Willis.
Coming out of Liberty University, Willis was widely thought to be the top quarterback, and potential a top 10 overall prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. As it turns out, Willis was only a “consensus” first rounder to the media, and not the front offices making the picks.
Instead of being taken in the top 10, Willis dropped out of the first and second round completely, tumbling all the way to the back end of the third round. Surprisingly, GM Jon Robinson and the Tennessee Titans pulled the trigger on a quarterback, and selected Willis with the 86th pick in the draft.
The Titans decided to double dip, and start Ryan Tannehill under center while they developed Willis as his future successor behind the scenes.
It’s known that he’s not NFL ready at this moment, but how soon will Titans fans have to wait until they can watch Willis lead the Titans on Sundays?
ESPN’s Turron Davenport detailed his prediction in that collaborative ESPN article for when Malik Willis will get his first shot at the next level:
Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans
Drafted: Round 3, No. 86
Competition to start: Ryan TannehillBest prediction for first NFL start: Week 15 of the 2023 season. Tannehill's contract has $9.2 million in dead money after the 2023 season. The Titans will need to see what they have in Willis before they make a decision to move on from Tannehill. If Tennessee isn't vying for a playoff spot, that's the perfect time to give Willis a chance to show what he can do in live game action. — Turron Davenport
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if Willis doesn’t take many snaps in 2022. In fact, in that same article, Davenport gave Willis a 75% chance to sit all year, with a serious injury being the only scenario in which Tannehill loses the starting role.
He could have some special packages designed for him out of the shotgun, but he’s still an unproven and undeveloped QB, and it has shown in his practices.
While the tools are always very clearly on display, from what I’ve noticed, decision making and accuracy are still major issues that the Titans and quarterbacks coach Pat O’Hara are working through. It’s also important to note Willis’ lack of experience playing under center.
These issues have carried enough weight to warrant the team likely keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster so that Logan Woodside, and long tenured member in the system, can take over full-time responsibilities if Tannehill were to go down.
Bottom line is, Willis isn’t ready. But the Titans still believe he can be their QB of the future. I think much of his timeline, as Davenport touched on, will be dictated by the play of Tannehill, who is a bounce back candidate for 2022.
If you are expecting to see him as a starter in 2022, you shouldn’t be. And if you’re hoping to see him, that also may not be the best idea.
In the best-case scenario for the Titans, Willis doesn’t see the field in year one because Tannehill plays his way back into the MVP conversation.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
