Malik Willis

[StillerDownSouth]

In my opinion he's the best option for the Steelers, I would sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal tops, if he flames out next year nothing really lost, draft a QB in 27 and move on, they will have plenty of cap room, but if he hits then you could be right back in the conversation for being a really good team. Of all the available options, he is the best option by far, he's young, very mobile, fast, has a rocket arm, and played well when called upon in Green Bay.....fuck another season of Rodgers.

[W&M_Steeler]

In my opinion he's the best option for the Steelers, I would sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal tops, if he flames out next year nothing really lost, draft a QB in 27 and move on, they will have plenty of cap room, but if he hits then you could be right back in the conversation for being a really good team. Of all the available options, he is the best option by far, he's young, very mobile, fast, has a rocket arm, and played well when called upon in Green Bay.....fuck another season of Rodgers.

Ready for Justin Fields 2? He's had one good game, and running QBs are incredibly overrated. But signing Willis this year means the Steelers will almost certainly be out of the 2026 and 2027 QB draft, probably 2028 too, even if he sucks. No thanks.

[StillerDownSouth]

Don't think they would be out of the market next year for a QB, unless Willis turns into "The Guy"....won't really cost them much if they ink him to a 2 year deal.

[Ice]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

[.Kodiak]

Don't think they would be out of the market next year for a QB, unless Willis turns into "The Guy"....won't really cost them much if they ink him to a 2 year deal.

Right. If a QB they really want falls to them at 10 or 20 or wherever they are next year, they'll take him unless Willis has convinced them otherwise.

Odds are we are having this exact same debate next year. They'll be picking @20, where there are no guarantees and even a small fortune to trade up is no guarantee.

Also, odds are even if they draft a rookie in 2027 he'll sit most or all of the year. Bunch of panty bunching over nothing.

[W&M_Steeler]

Don't think they would be out of the market next year for a QB, unless Willis turns into "The Guy"....won't really cost them much if they ink him to a 2 year deal.

Right. If a QB they really want falls to them at 10 or 20 or wherever they are next year, they'll take him unless Willis has convinced them otherwise.

Maybe. They're not always that quick to admit mistakes. If they convince themselves that Willis still has potential despite having a crappy season, then I could see them choosing to not take a QB they'd otherwise take. After all, they tried to re-sign Fields. At least they weren't dumb enough to break the bank for him.

[Greeksteel]

In my opinion he's the best option for the Steelers, I would sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal tops, if he flames out next year nothing really lost, draft a QB in 27 and move on, they will have plenty of cap room, but if he hits then you could be right back in the conversation for being a really good team. Of all the available options, he is the best option by far, he's young, very mobile, fast, has a rocket arm, and played well when called upon in Green Bay.....fuck another season of Rodgers.

Completely agree

[Stosh-67]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

$30 million.!?
What you talking about Willis.
He's played 4 seasons.
Thrown 155 career passes, 1300 career yards and 6 TDs..... in 4 seasons. That's only 6 more career TDs then the back of my football card.
Will be 27 this season.
Still only 6'-1".... that's tuff to see the middle of the field over and thru nine to ten 300 LB. Wide bodies who are all. 3-6" taller then him. Watched Russel Wilson not see the middle of the field in our colors....

I'd give snaps to Howard over Willis

[Stlcrtn1974]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

$30 million.!?
What you talking about Willis.
He's played 4 seasons.
Thrown 155 career passes, 1300 career yards and 6 TDs..... in 4 seasons. That's only 6 more career TDs then the back of my football card.
Will be 27 this season.
Still only 6'-1".... that's tuff to see the middle of the field over and thru nine to ten 300 LB. Wide bodies who are all. 3-6" taller then him. Watched Russel Wilson not see the middle of the field in our colors....

I'd give snaps to Howard over Willis

I don't get wanting him as your starter. He had 1 good game last year, throwing for 1 td which was his career high, against the worst Baltimore defense I've ever seen. Watching Fields was torture enough, spend the 30 million elsewhere and build this team back up.

[Ice]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

$30 million.!?
What you talking about Willis.
He's played 4 seasons.
Thrown 155 career passes, 1300 career yards and 6 TDs..... in 4 seasons. That's only 6 more career TDs then the back of my football card.
Will be 27 this season.
Still only 6'-1".... that's tuff to see the middle of the field over and thru nine to ten 300 LB. Wide bodies who are all. 3-6" taller then him. Watched Russel Wilson not see the middle of the field in our colors....

I'd give snaps to Howard over Willis

Anything more than an inflation adjusted version of what the Vikings gave Darnold when they signed him originally should be a hard pass.

[Gonzo]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

I head the same thing on sports radio yesterday about willis -- they also were discussing teams QBs for next year and when it came to the Steelers they all ,mentioned the steelers likely wanting rodgrers back and they started laughing and repeatedly saying -- "what are they doing". They concluded that indeed the Steelers/Rooney are Not interested in SBs and 9-8 is their goal and Championship - what they are doing makes no other sense.

[Jobu]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

I’ve seen/heard one report that it could take $35-$40 million per year to land him. What the fuck are we doing here?

[Ice]

Rumored that the market for Willis might get into the $30 million plus range. Like Drama said, all around, it's a bad year to need a QB.

I’ve seen/heard one report that it could take $35-$40 million per year to land him. What the fuck are we doing here?

That's even insanerer.

[anpsteel]

Absolutely zero interest in Malik Willis

A. he’s going to get overpaid

B. He’s at best a stop gap solution.
The last thing this Team needs is another fricking. Middle of the road, kick the candle down the curb, NHALS option at qb

Which is exactly why i don’t want Aaron Rodgers back

Let Howard play

You’ll either suck and find yourself in better position to draft one next season, or you’ll find out that Howard can actually perform and your problem is solved

[.Kodiak]

Maybe. They're not always that quick to admit mistakes. If they convince themselves that Willis still has potential despite having a crappy season, then I could see them choosing to not take a QB they'd otherwise take. After all, they tried to re-sign Fields. At least they weren't dumb enough to break the bank for him.

Maybe so, maybe not. So what? Rodgers does not solve the problem you're so worried about, so I don't know why you keep arguing for it. It's worse - Rodgers kicks the can down the road another year, for what?

If a top QB fell in their lap, they would still take him even if they think Willis had potential. Two potential franchise QBs is a nice problem to have.

You are wetting yourself that PIT is going to somehow miss out on the next Dan Marino because Malik fucking Willis has a good game. Willis isn't going to factor into that decision in any meaningful way.

Goodness people.... If Ben Roethlisberger is sitting there at #20, you take him EVEN IF you already have 2007 Ben on the roster. You take the future HOFer and then figure out what to do with your "problem" at QB.

[swissvale72]

Could be drew allar with one of the round 3 selections. Would be interesting having Howard and Allar in the same camp… Where Howard always got the best of him.

[.Kodiak]

Absolutely zero interest in Malik Willis

A. he’s going to get

Yeah I'm not advocating for Willis. I think Howard should play, but they need some stop gap who's notably better than Rudolph in case Howard falls on his face.

None of these guys are going to make that much of a difference over Rudolph. It may get you 1-2 extra wins, but nothing meaningful. Which means none of those guys are enough of an upgrade over Rudolph to warrant an extra $20M+. $10-15M and you cut Rudolph and that works for a year.

As I've said, I'm fine with Rodgers if he's on board with the plan for Howard to start at least 4-5 games. I don't think he is. I am adamantly opposed to any plan that doesn't allow for Howard to see the field. By the same token, I don't think there's a world where you give Willis 3-yrs for $100M (he's done nothing to earn anything more than a 1-yr prove it deal).

[gojira5150]

In my opinion he's the best option for the Steelers, I would sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal tops, if he flames out next year nothing really lost, draft a QB in 27 and move on, they will have plenty of cap room, but if he hits then you could be right back in the conversation for being a really good team. Of all the available options, he is the best option by far, he's young, very mobile, fast, has a rocket arm, and played well when called upon in Green Bay.....fuck another season of Rodgers.

100% spot on

Either get Willis for 2 years OR just roll with Howard and see what happens

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Let's buy a not shiny new 700 dollar driver before we even unpack the 700 dollar shiny new driver we just bought a year ago.

[Ice]

Could be drew allar with one of the round 3 selections. Would be interesting having Howard and Allar in the same camp… Where Howard always got the best of him.

With all the holes we have to fill, a card for Allar in the 3rd would have to be written in crayon with the R backwards.

[anpsteel]

Absolutely zero interest in Malik Willis

A. he’s going to get

Yeah I'm not advocating for Willis. I think Howard should play, but they need some stop gap who's notably better than Rudolph in case Howard falls on his face.

None of these guys are going to make that much of a difference over Rudolph. It may get you 1-2 extra wins, but nothing meaningful. Which means none of those guys are enough of an upgrade over Rudolph to warrant an extra $20M+. $10-15M and you cut Rudolph and that works for a year.

As I've said, I'm fine with Rodgers if he's on board with the plan for Howard to start at least 4-5 games. I don't think he is. I am adamantly opposed to any plan that doesn't allow for Howard to see the field. By the same token, I don't think there's a world where you give Willis 3-yrs for $100M (he's done nothing to earn anything more than a 1-yr prove it deal).

I think you want to fall on your face

Unless he’s excellent


The team’s best outcome this season is one of two paths

Option 1, Howard plays better than most expect and wins the team 10+ games getting them in the playoffs

Option 2, Howard sucks and the team only wins five games or less. This puts them in much better position to draft a franchise quarterback next year.


Any other option is just continuation of the same crap we’ve been dealing with for the last eight or so seasons

[.Kodiak]

The team’s best outcome this season is one of two paths

Option 1, Howard plays better than most expect and wins the team 10+ games getting them in the playoffs

Option 2, Howard sucks and the team only wins five games or less. This puts them in much better position to draft a franchise quarterback next year.

Option 2 is the fantasy of the old Madden days. Drafting high is absolutely no guarantee of getting a franchise QB. See the Browns. Tanking for draft picks is not a path to championships - a team that drafts well enough for that to work can make it work without drafting in the top-10. You no longer need a HOF QB to win, much less compete for, SBs. So it's foolish to limit what you do with the rest of the roster because you're spending all your resources mining for QBs.

The problem with no alternative if Howard falls on his face is you have to build, develop and evaluate the other guys on offense. That requires a minimum level of competent QB play. Hence why people are advocating for a QB that's better than Rudolph if Howard isn't starter material. Failing with Howard just to draft higher isn't a good tradeoff.

And until this year, plenty of people advocated for Rudolph as that bridge guy. Rudolph has very limited arm talent and I think you need better to evaluate the other guys on offense. He's fine as a backup, but he's not a guy I want running the offense for 6-7+ games.

[Mick]

Malik Willis with any price tag north of $20M/year is pretty close to my dead last option, above only trading a premium pick for Mac Jones.

I’d even rather recycle Russ.

[Steel Ubaldo]

I’d rather spend a conditional 7th round selection on a trade for Anthony Richardson before spending $30 million on Malik Willis.

I’d rather pluck my eyeballs out and blow up my eardrums than draft Drew Allar, hear EVERY PENN ST fan/blogger/ “journalist” repeatedly call for him to start as soon as things go a little south, and then watch him choke in a big moment IF he actually ever plays. HARD PASS .

[Ice]

I find it hard to believe that a Penn State fan would willingly sign up for more Drew Allar.

[swissvale72]

I find it hard to believe that a Penn State fan would willingly sign up for more Drew Allar.

I know...and I don't really believe, Steelers would add that complication to the QB room. Plus...still have Skylar Thompson. Was he the guy always sitting beside Rodgers on the bench...talking/laughing with him?

[Jobu]

still have Skylar Thompson.

Not really. Free agent at the start of the new league year.

[Gonzo]

it will be OK
the storied steelers franchise will wait like wallflowers for Rodgers to see if a better team wants him first

and if he does come, we can design our new offense around that skill-set -- I suggest we run 5 wide and all 5 take two steps and turn around (outside the hashes of course) and Rodgers with his quick reads and accurate passing can deduce immediately which one to throw it to or heave it into the stands or fall over

[TimmayLake]

Allar is terrible. I might spend a 6th or 7th rounder on him, no higher. And I am a Penn State fan.

[.Kodiak]

Malik Willis with any price tag north of $20M/year is pretty close to my dead last option, above only trading a premium pick for Mac Jones.

I’d even rather recycle Russ.

It will be interesting to see what Willis ends up getting. If @ $20M is a "prove it" deal for these reclamation projects I can maybe see that. It's basically starter money and nothing more.

A year ago, Fields - who had much more going for him than Willis (which still wasn't much) - signed 2/40 with NYJ with $30M guaranteed. The cap did kind of explode this year, but hard to see Willis beating Fields' deal.

I'm not advocating Willis, at all. But I think if a team offers him the same deal as Fields he will sign that contract faster than anyone in history.


None of the names that have been mentioned make me think "yeah, I want that guy for 17 games and don't want to see Howard at all". If what we know and expect from these guys is largely NOT what we hope Howard can be, then why not see what he has? What does that really leave you with? Maybe a Joe Flacco-type, or maybe Rudolph isn't that much worse of an option if Howard fails.

If Howard isn't planned to start sooner than later, we probably don't see him in a meaningful game. Rodgers or Willis and some others I don't think Howard will see the field for one reason or another, even if he should.

But maybe we're all over thinking this. They did see Howard quite a bit in practice. If they thought he had an NFL arm with NFL accuracy, wouldn't they just announce they expect him to be the starter? Maybe they do think that - all these rumors are just speculation. Could be why waiting on Rodgers is not a big deal, and they just want a decision to know if they want to find another washed vet to compete with Howard.