5 quarterbacks Cleveland Browns should scout at upcoming Senior Bowl
By John Suchan
Cleveland Browns Quarterback No. 5 to watch: Malik Willis, Liberty University
When you hear Liberty University, you don’t think NFL quarterback, but Malik Willis seems to be the hottest name out there today when discussing the quarterbacks in the draft this year. He’s a bit of a passer and runner and is the new type of NFL quarterback that is very attractive to many teams.
He finished this last season throwing for 2,260 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also ran the ball for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns. That type of dual-threat, like a Patrick Mahomes, of the Kansas City Chiefs or Lamar Jackson, of the Baltimore Ravens could help the Cleveland Browns in ways that this team hasn’t had in recent memory.
If the Browns were to draft a talented player like Willis it would likely have to be a whole new look to the offense and how to run it moving forward. It would be a leap of faith by whoever drafts Willis. He could be the difference-maker but his experiences at Liberty were ones that weren’t having him compete against the best talent in college football. Can his game transition to the NFL?
On NFL mock draft boards, he’s been listed all over the place. In one mock draft, he was the first quarterback taken, in this case at No. 7 by the New York Giants, while in another he went at No. 18 to the New Orleans Saints. My fellow contributor Matthew McFatridge from DPD had him going to the Browns at No. 13 in his latest mock draft.
With the draft still more than two months away, the draft board will continue to change daily, and Willis will move with that board.