It's been nearly 20 years since the Pittsburgh Steelers last spent a first-round draft pick on a quarterback. The year was 2004, and with the 11th overall pick, they selected Miami University standout Ben Roethlisberger, who produced a Hall of Fame career over 18 non-losing seasons with the team and announced his retirement in January. Suffice to say, a first-round pick that paid off tenfold.
When the 2022 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night in Las Vegas, the Steelers might feel compelled to snap their streak of quarterback-less opening rounds. Although they signed free agent Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal last month, he's viewed as a placeholder, rather than a long-term starter. Pittsburgh owns the 20th pick, and if they're willing to roll the dice on one of the quarterback prospects, former Steelers defender and current CBS Sports HQ NFL analyst Bryant McFadden believes they should pursue Liberty star Malik Willis.
"At some point in time, you have to address the quarterback position because we don't know if Mitch Trubisky is in the long-term plans," McFadden told the Maggie and Perloff show on Thursday. "Right now, for this year, I'm okay with Mitch Trubisky being the starting quarterback. But at some point, you've got to look at the long-term answer at the spot. And if Malik Willis is there, I think you take him. I think he's the best quarterback in this draft.
"It's a watered-down class, to say the least. But he's the cream of the crop of this class. If you draft him, you don't have to force him into action right now. You have the luxury for him to sit and learn what it takes to be a professional player -- on and off the field. Then, in a year or so, he's ready to go... If you play on the defensive side, I think you'd be okay in knowing that, if Malik is there, you take him. Because having a good QB helps the entire team out."
Willis, who's listed at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, is the first-ranked quarterback and 30th overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' draft board. As a dual-threat playmaker in the pocket, he completed the 2021 season with 40 all-purpose touchdowns (27 passing, 13 rushing), and amassed 2,857 passing yards with a 61.1 completion percentage. His QBR of 70.0 ranked 36th in the nation, and his 12 interceptions tied for 111th.
Despite playing for a small independent team that faces inferior competition, Willis should overcome the leaguewide stigma. He made a strong impression at the NFL Combine, showcasing his arm strength and accuracy in workouts. Willis reportedly interviewed well with teams, and also received praise when cameras captured him helping a homeless person in Indianapolis. Only eight players have ever been drafted from Liberty, and Willis is going to be the first quarterback. He'll also be one of the 21 total prospects attending the draft.
The entire NFL conversation between McFadden and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above (interview begins at 3:43 ET mark).
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.