Vikings Rumors: Minnesota a team to watch for QB Malik Willis

Among the Minnesota Vikings rumors on Friday, drafting Liberty quarterback Malik Willis is believed to be something the team is considering.

On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings are currently scheduled to have a total of three selections (one in the second round and two in the third round). Could the Vikings use one of these picks on former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis?

Willis to Minnesota is at least a possibility according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Friday. Rapoport said that drafting Willis in the second round is “at least, something [the Vikings] will consider.”

Vikings Rumors: Should Minnesota pick QB Malik Willis in the 2022 NFL Draft?

Even with Kirk Cousins cemented in as the team’s starting quarterback for the 2022 season, Minnesota is still in a good position to draft a young signal-caller like Willis on Friday.

Cousins only has two years left on his current contract. With many viewing Willis as a quarterback that could benefit from sitting on the bench for a season or two, the Vikings might actually be the perfect landing spot for him.

After spending the first two years of his college career at Auburn, Willis transferred to Liberty in 2019, and became the school’s starting quarterback in 2020.

He’s a dual-threat quarterback who can chuck it down the field. In 13 games last season, he threw 27 touchdowns and rushed for another 13 scores.

If Minnesota thinks they can help Willis fine-tune some of his strengths and improve his weaknesses, he’s definitely someone they should be considering with the No. 34 pick in the second round on Friday.

The Vikings’ new regime might be committed to Cousins as their starter for the 2022 season. But they also have to look ahead to the future and drafting someone like Willis could help give them a better chance to maintain a high level of success during the next handful of years.