Malik Willis' price dropping

[Drink IRON City]

I was listening to Mad Dog in the morning, with Adam Stein.

Stein is sure pushing Kyler Murray like he is a savior to whomever gets him.

Myself, I’d go with Willis. Although he doesn’t have a large resume, I think he has way more potential.

This QB position is the largest and hardest to determine final product.

I keep telling myself to trust MM, his experience will prevail.



Salute the nation

 

[stuntmanmike]

If fat Mike is so ******* good why can’t he get a qb and build him up? **** this spending all this money on wash outs! For **** sakes!

 

[bermudasteel]

I'm in the mindset that "younger talent" is the need (especially since we've got Moses coaching now).

With that being said, Willis has all of the intangibles that young A-A Ron had when Moses McCarthy was coaching him. Let's call his tenure at Tennessee a learning experience because he never had a chance to succeed there. He may not be as fast as some of the mobile QBs but he can get away when needed. He does not turn the ball over much. He has top tier arm strength.

As we now stand in front of the Red Sea, Moses must lead us thru this obstacle and only God can make this miracle happen - twice...

 

[slashsteel]

I'm in the mindset that "younger talent" is the need (especially since we've got Moses coaching now).

With that being said, Willis has all of the intangibles that young A-A Ron had when Moses McCarthy was coaching him. Let's call his tenure at Tennessee a learning experience because he never had a chance to succeed there. He may not be as fast as some of the mobile QBs but he can get away when needed. He does not turn the ball over much. He has top tier arm strength.

As we now stand in front of the Red Sea, Moses must lead us thru this obstacle and only God can make this miracle happen - twice...

One wrong move and that sea will engulf them, then you will walk like an Egyptian.

 

[xjx]

When his price drops to zero bring him in as a camp arm and then cut him. He can walk like an Egyptian to his next team.

 

[bermudasteel]

One wrong move and that sea will engulf them, then you will walk like an Egyptian.

Drown like an Egyptian more likely...

 

[slashsteel]

Drown like an Egyptian more likely...

That was what I was hinting at yes. Instead of walking on water under it like the sea floor.

 

[Troglodyte]

$15 mil per year for what amounts to a prospect? No, thank you. We have way too many holes to fill to be spending that much money on one very unproven player.

$15 million ain’t what it used to be when you’re talking NFL salaries. And, by your logic, a team should always trade high first round picks away lest they invest $15 million in a prospect.

 

[DesertSteel]

He's been my #1 choice for about 6 months.

 

[DesertSteel]

We don't have a franchise QB but for some reason some fans act like we don't have to play by the rules of the have not's. If you don't have one you need to take risks. The chances otherwise are miniscule.

 

[TDX27]

That'd rank 21st in the for QB pay with basically everyone below $20--outside of Rodgers--playing on a rookie deal. It's also $13 million below Baker/Darnold.

He's not as good as Baker or Darnold. At least, not until he plays a lot more and wins a lot more.

 

[Steeltime]

I have not seen enough (any) of Malik Willis play to offer an informed opinion, so like everybody else I will just spout off. Here is an interesting but completely irrelevant comparison of Willis to Will Howard as to physical traits and college stats. (I based the age on how old they will be during the 2026 season, not today's age because who cares about that?):

Player​	Age​	Height​	Weight​	40 time​	College Comp. %​	College Yds​	College TD's​	College Int.​	College Rush Att​	College Rush Yds​	College YPA
Malik Willis​	27​	6'1"​	215 lbs.​	NA​	62.8%​	5191​	48​	18​	366​	2131​	5.8​
Will Howard​	26​	6'4"​	236 lbs.​	4.83​	63.8%​	9798​	83​	35​	331​	1147​	3.5​

College stats for QB's relative to rushing are often problematic because in college, sacks are deducted from yards rushing and that clearly affects both yards and yards/attempt. So what do these stats tell us? Not much. At all.

Willis has a significant benefit of three years of pro experience and coaching. If his pro coaching was good, that is a big advantage. However, neither Willis nor Howard has much (or any) pro experience. That fact underscores that spending time on the bench does not provide much (any) information about the potential for a pro QB.

 

[Steel Maniac]

If we make a non-draft move for a QB, I'd like it to be for Mac Jones. I'd happily give the 49ers a 3rd round pick this year and a 3rd next year for him. That would be as high as I go in my bid for Mac Jones. I think he proved last year that if he has a good passing system, he can be a starter in this league. He just need a legit passing coach. And McCarthy has always ran a legit passing game.

 

[SteelerFan448]

He's not as good as Baker or Darnold. At least, not until he plays a lot more and wins a lot more.

Right, which is why $13 million less per year isn't a bad deal. It's still a low price for a starter.

 

[TheDudeAbides]

...by your logic, a team should always trade high first round picks away lest they invest $15 million in a prospect.

I never said that. I said that we have WAY too many holes to fill to pay that for an unproven player. Someone else referred to him as 'a starter'. He's never been a 'starter'...he's a backup who has started a couple of games due to injuries.

We're already saddled to some overpriced players that we should be dealing with and aren't. Watt is one example. Granted, our former DC had a short leash and was clearly intellectually challenged, so they never moved the man around and just allowed teams to game plan away from his strengths to some degree. But that doesn't change the fact that he's clearly lost at least one step.

I just don't like the idea of piling on more huge contracts for guys who we have no idea how they'll perform in the league. If that's the 'plan' ride or die with Howard! Nobody here can say that he's better or worse than Willis in the NFL. He was a LOT better than Willis in college, we do know that. Those comparison numbers posted above fail to mention that Howard put up his numbers against top competition while Willis beat up on cupcakes at Liberty.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinions. And I fully realize that my opinions, at the end of the day, mean next to nothing. Just like everyone else here.

 

[Steeltime]

If we make a non-draft move for a QB, I'd like it to be for Mac Jones. I'd happily give the 49ers a 3rd round pick this year and a 3rd next year for him. That would be as high as I go in my bid for Mac Jones. I think he proved last year that if he has a good passing system, he can be a starter in this league. He just need a legit passing coach. And McCarthy has always ran a legit passing game.

Mac Jones is mediocre and reminds me a lot of Kenny Pickett. Okay at best, but never going to be good enough to pull a team to a win. On his good days, he will help a team win. On his mediocre days (the majority of games), he will not kill the team but will be the 5th most important factor in the win behind defense, offensive line, running game, etc. On his bad days he will do everything in his power to make sure the team does not win.

 

[Superman]

I never said that. I said that we have WAY too many holes to fill to pay that for an unproven player. Someone else referred to him as 'a starter'. He's never been a 'starter'...he's a backup who has started a couple of games due to injuries.

We're already saddled to some overpriced players that we should be dealing with and aren't. Watt is one example. Granted, our former DC had a short leash and was clearly intellectually challenged, so they never moved the man around and just allowed teams to game plan away from his strengths to some degree. But that doesn't change the fact that he's clearly lost at least one step.

I just don't like the idea of piling on more huge contracts for guys who we have no idea how they'll perform in the league. If that's the 'plan' ride or die with Howard! Nobody here can say that he's better or worse than Willis in the NFL. He was a LOT better than Willis in college, we do know that. Those comparison numbers posted above fail to mention that Howard put up his numbers against top competition while Willis beat up on cupcakes at Liberty.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinions. And I fully realize that my opinions, at the end of the day, mean next to nothing. Just like everyone else here.

additionally, when Liberty played stiff competition, they were decimated.
I watched Willis vs Ole Miss. He looked bad. really bad.
that's not to say that it's all his fault - clearly his line was garbage as he was catching the snap at the same time he was having to get rid of the ball.

 

[Don Kedic]

Ah, so now Malik is an “interesting” prospect. While we’re at it, maybe we should run it back with Trubisky. That would be an equally good idea.

 

[Don Kedic]

Mac Jones is mediocre

Then he should fit right in with the rest of our team.

 

[Troglodyte]

I never said that. I said that we have WAY too many holes to fill to pay that for an unproven player. Someone else referred to him as 'a starter'. He's never been a 'starter'...he's a backup who has started a couple of games due to injuries.

We're already saddled to some overpriced players that we should be dealing with and aren't. Watt is one example. Granted, our former DC had a short leash and was clearly intellectually challenged, so they never moved the man around and just allowed teams to game plan away from his strengths to some degree. But that doesn't change the fact that he's clearly lost at least one step.

I just don't like the idea of piling on more huge contracts for guys who we have no idea how they'll perform in the league. If that's the 'plan' ride or die with Howard! Nobody here can say that he's better or worse than Willis in the NFL. He was a LOT better than Willis in college, we do know that. Those comparison numbers posted above fail to mention that Howard put up his numbers against top competition while Willis beat up on cupcakes at Liberty.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinions. And I fully realize that my opinions, at the end of the day, mean next to nothing. Just like everyone else here.

Again, $15 million isn’t a huge contract. Certainly not for a QB. Would you have protested signing journeyman Sam Darnold?

 

[Steel Maniac]

Mac Jones is mediocre and reminds me a lot of Kenny Pickett. Okay at best, but never going to be good enough to pull a team to a win. On his good days, he will help a team win. On his mediocre days (the majority of games), he will not kill the team but will be the 5th most important factor in the win behind defense, offensive line, running game, etc. On his bad days he will do everything in his power to make sure the team does not win.

Two years ago,They said the same things about Sam Darnold

 

[Steel Maniac]

I watch all the games he started for the 49ers and he was so good that there were questions on weather he was better than Purdy. That showed me that he just needed to be in a real system from a real coach.

 

[Steel Maniac]

Malik Willis hadn’t shown me he’s anything more than a poor man’s version of Lamar Jackson . I don’t believe in any QB that can’t sit back in the pocket and pass.

 

[TheDudeAbides]

Again, $15 million isn’t a huge contract. Certainly not for a QB. Would you have protested signing journeyman Sam Darnold?

$15 million for a 6" (at best!) running back from Liberty who occasionally tosses the ball about as a backup, yes. Much too much. Sorry, never been impressed at all. Well, I suppose the 18 INTs he tossed while at Liberty is somewhat impressive.

As for Darnold, hardly. A former #3 overall draft pick coming off an excellent season in Minnesota? Are you seriously trying to compare these two players? They could hardly be further apart.

 

[Chadman]

Given that Rodgers was $10m- Willis at $30m seems a huge risk.

I look at it like this- we enter with poor QB options & a somewhat disappointing draft class ahead of us. We have Mason Rudolph on a friendly deal & no idea what Will Howard actually offers.

Any draft pick is MORE likely to compete with Howard than for #1. So relying on the draft for a starter is probably out.

Rodgers offers low risk, mid-level reward.
Willis offers HIGH risk with potentially high, just as likely low, reward.

In a bad QB year- I don't think you swing wildly & hope.

For that, I'm not in on Willis.

Mac Jones is going to cost too much.

All that follows is if Rodgers retires.

4 names I'd look at-
Marcus Mariota- questionable if it's a downgrade on 2025 Rodgers. With better weapons, I expect you could get some kind of return at value.

• Marcus Mariota started more games than anyone expected him to and performed admirably, producing consistent showings regardless of opponent or available weaponry. Washington would be wise to find a way to keep him in 2026.

Jimmy Garoppalo- Another steady, low risk option that could tie us over for a year or so & probably marginally worse than Rodgers 2025.

Justin Fields- I'd prefer taking a flier on Fields than Willis. Cheaper & wasn't bad at Pittsburgh. Jets form is a bad form guide. Drafting a QB like Carson Beck who could potentially step in if Fields crashes might be advisable.

Lastly- the one I'd get if available- Davis Mills. I don't see how he would cost more than a 3rd- low risk really for a young QB.

• I will remember this season's version of Davis Mills fondly, and it's only because of how he directed one of the most electric comeback efforts seen anywhere in the NFL in 2025, engineering three fourth-quarter touchdown drives to propel the Texans to a comeback win over the Jaguars at a crucial point in the season. Oh, I should also note he did a bang-up job of keeping the Texans rolling in his other two starts, posting a 5-1 TD-INT ratio in three straight wins