The Pittsburgh Steelers would love to draft Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

But over the last few weeks, Willis has gone from being a late first-round/early second-round pick to a potential top 10 selection (the Steelers have the No. 20 overall pick in the first round).

That's due to two factors — Willis' impressive draft combine performance and Pro Day, plus the lack of "sure thing" quarterbacks in this draft class.

Willis has as much upside of any quarterback in this draft. His arm strength and leadership abilities could lead to the former Liberty standout becoming a franchise quarterback for an NFL team one day.

But that's far from a sure thing. Willis is incredibly raw. And NFL franchises typically don't like to gamble too much with their first-round pick — they usually want a player that they can count on for production by at least year two (and in some cases year one).

Could Malik Willis fall to the Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft?

NFL.com draft analyst Bucky Brooks pointed out this week how he thinks Willis is still raw as a prospect and needs time to develop in the NFL.

From NFL.com:

During his workout at Liberty on Tuesday, Willis dazzled scouts with his big arm, making a series of "wow" throws that captured the imagination of coaches looking for a quarterback with the potential to expand the playbook. He throws the ball at an outstanding pace, and his fastball has more than enough RPMs to cut through high-traffic areas. However, Willis must learn how to better change speeds and trajectories with his throws. He needs to become more of a surgeon than a butcher as a passer, and how well he refines this part of his game could determine whether he carves out a lengthy career as a QB1.

Overall, Willis has intriguing tools that could make him a star at the next level. Plus, he is an engaging person with great communication skills and leadership ability. He is raw and will need some time to develop in the NFL, but if he is able to put it all together on the field, the Liberty standout has the potential to emerge as the top QB from this year's class.

Will an NFL team with a top 10 pick gamble on a high-upside player that needs time to develop?

Or is all the media hype surrounding Willis right now an attempt to make those top 10 draft picks more valuable?

Remember, the media's perception of a player doesn't always line up with what NFL teams think. There's often a lot of noise that's put out there by NFL franchises to muddy the waters.

The Steelers would be best suited to sit back and see if Willis falls. If he gets past the No. 15 pick, then maybe they can entertain trading up (which would be much cheaper than moving into the top 10).

I tend to think that a quarterback-needy team will end up drafting Willis higher than he'd go in most years. But I think there's still a slim chance he could fall to the Steelers at No. 20.

Featured image via USA TODAY Sports