Panthers’ Malik Willis dilemma: The NFL Draft’s boom or bust talent

Malik Willis poses a dilemma for the Carolina Panthers

Fellow mock connoisseurs will confirm that draft content creators currently have no idea what to do with Malik Willis. There is just no telling how the Carolina Panthers and others across the league perceive the signal-caller right now, so it’s a guessing game for the rest of us.

One mock draft may have him going in the top five, while the next won’t have him going in the first round at all. Luckily for Willis, his stock appears to be on a rapid ascent following the Senior Bowl.

Willis was able to capture the hearts and minds of NFL personnel in Mobile, Alabama, boasting rare arm talent and a charming personality.

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While Willis is a highlight-factory waiting to happen, it can become dangerously easy to allow those rare flashes to fog your overall perception of him as a prospect. The ceiling is there, but he’s also a player that will require patience and astute coaching if the Panthers did gamble on these traits.

It’s difficult to blame hopeful fans for being enamored with what Willis can one day become. But it will likely take some time to get there.

Many scouts would agree that Willis is a prime example of a player that may need a “redshirt” season. The physical makeup is there, but the prospect has a lot of growing to do when it comes to decision-making and accuracy.

Willis’ arm is obviously a blessing, but it can also be a curse in the sense that sometimes he opts for a more difficult target instead of simply taking what the defense provides him.