A recent report has come out suggesting one possibility why Malik Willis fell so far in the NFL Draft before being picked up by the Tennessee Titans.
Arguably one of the biggest stories on draft night was the movement, or indeed lack thereof when it came to the quarterbacks of the class, with just Kenny Pickett going inside the top 50 when he was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at #20.
This year’s draft class was noted for not being the most packed when it came to star quarterback talent, nobody was going to confuse it with the classes of 1983 or 2004 for instance.
But even so, considering how many teams went into the draft arguably needing to draft their future quarterback and how important the position is, for that few to be taken that early did come as something as a surprise.
The not-so heir-apparent
Given how Seattle lost their franchise QB this past offseason in Russell Wilson in a trade with the Denver Broncos, it seemed like a quarterback would be high on their priority list in the draft.
And given Willis’ skillset of a terrific arm and the speed to scramble and escape a collapsing pocket, the comparables were there to think that the Liberty man would be making the move to Lumen Field:
Not impressed enough by the skillset
According to a report from Brady Henderson at ESPN, the reason that the Seahawks decided to pass on Willis was a pretty straightforward one, they didn’t think that he, or indeed any of the other quarterbacks available were good enough to spend any of their nine draft picks on.
“The Seahawks passed on Willis four times before he was taken 86th overall -- feeling he was nowhere near NFL-ready, according to one source -- and didn't think enough of the other quarterbacks to take one with any of their nine selections.”
The Seahawks did bring in Levi Lewis as an undrafted free agent after the draft who could be used as a developmental quarterback, but as it pertains to an instant starter, it looks like it’s going to be a battle between Geno Smith and Drew Lock for that spot.
Although you do have to wonder if the Seahawks, a well-run organisation that has been one of the premier franchises in recent years, didn’t think that he was good enough to play for them, what does that say about the team who did eventually draft him?