Panthers need some ‘Wow’ in their lives, which is why it’s time to draft Malik Willis
.JPG "Liberty quarterback Malik Willis warms up before his pro day in March.")
The Carolina Panthers are shopping hungry in this NFL draft. They need to buy a ton of stuff to make a five-win team grow into something to be proud of, and to make matters worse, they are circling the aisles pushing around one of those mini-carts due to a lack of draft picks.
And yet, though it might seem like a luxury for a team that needs so much, it’s actually a necessity for the Panthers to pick a quarterback who may not start right away.
Specifically, they should pick Liberty’s Malik Willis.
Without a quarterback who has charisma and star power in today’s NFL, the rest of it doesn’t matter much. Yes, the Panthers need to rebuild their offensive line. Yes, you could argue that a half-dozen other players Carolina could select in the first round would make a bigger immediate impact than Willis.
And yes, Willis could one day be the Panthers’ version of LaMelo Ball. That’s the most significant part.
The QB position is so important — and Carolina’s play at the position has been so uneven ever since T.J. Watt hit Cam Newton in the shoulder in Pittsburgh in 2018 and started the downhill slide — that the team has to make a QB move this weekend.
They have to put more resources into this spot, and a QB on a rookie contract is a lot more cost-effective than trading for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo. As Panther general manager Scott Fitterer said Tuesday, speaking about whether it’s better to draft a quarterback or trade for one: “Obviously, it’s great to go with a young guy. I mean you want to draft one, develop him and have him be your own. And there’s a cost-effectiveness that is involved with that … Ideally, you want him through the draft, but (the Panthers will do) whatever it takes to get them in the door.”
The Panthers are quarterback-deficient right now, in quality and quantity. And all you have to do is watch a few Willis highlights to understand his lightning-in-a-bottle potential.
It’s true Liberty didn’t run a pro-style offense, but so what? Willis will be able to pick it up. He showed that at the Indianapolis combine when he quickly grasped pro-style concepts in practice. And his “Wow” factor is through the ceiling.
Carolina needs some “Wow” in its life, and needs to select the quarterback with the highest upside. Even if it doesn’t work out long-term, it’s a worthy gamble. Willis has a firehose for an arm and his scrambling ability is the kind that makes fans jump to their feet. On the high end, he could be another Josh Allen.
What if Willis is gone by No. 6?
Then it’s time to trade down, get an extra pick or two and grab one of the other QBs available later in the first round.
Local product Sam Howell is going to be a good NFL quarterback one day and you could get fine value picking him in the late first or early second. I’m not quite as sold on Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral or Desmond Ridder, but at least one of them will likely pan out.
It’s worth the risk gambling for a QB. You have to. The Panthers have gambled many times on the position for, so why stop now? You keep taking shots at that position until you hit one, and Willis is worth a shot. He can extend plays with his legs and throw the ball 65 yards with accuracy.
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Is he a Day 1 starter, ready to replace Sam Darnold in September? Probably not. But that doesn’t matter. This is a pick made for the next 10 years, not for the next 10 games.
The problem is that head coach Matt Rhule isn’t on sure footing after a two-year record of 10-23, though team owner David Tepper said Wednesday Rhule had his “full support.” Picking a franchise left tackle or another pass rusher who could contribute right away makes sense if you’re not totally sure you’re going to get to Year 4. It’s not up to you to draft the next coach’s quarterback and make life easier for him.
But this is a franchise that needs an injection of hope.
A dollop of magic.
A reason to go to home games again.
Willis is all of that and more. Even though his remarkable collegiate numbers came against inferior competition, he can take the next big leap into the NFL. The Panthers can fill up their cart in the back half of the draft with one of this and one of that, trying to plug some of their other holes.
But the most important position has to be dealt with in some way this weekend. Picking a dynamic player like Willis is the simplest way to do it.
