Dan Orlovsky explains why Malik Willis will have most successful NFL career of 2022 quarterback class

The quarterback class in the 2022 NFL Draft has sparked plenty of conversation, especially since only one went in the first round. But that’s not the quarterback ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky believes will have the most successful NFL career.

Although Kenny Pickett went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, Orlovsky thinks Malik Willis will wind up having a huge career. The Tennessee Titans drafted Willis in the third round, and Orlovsky thinks it’s a great fit for some important reasons.

For one, there’s stability within the organization. But Orlovsky argued Mike Vrabel would be more likely than most to have patience with Willis, which is huge.

“One, we know Jon Robinson, the general manager for Tennessee, is not going anywhere with the roster he has built,” Orlovsky said on The Rich Eisen Show. “Two, Mike Vrabel, the head coach, has absolutely no pressure for any jobs, so he’s not going to what we see in the NFL all the time … rush a young quarterback on the field to save [his] job. Their offensive coordinator, Todd Downing, is schematically built and believes in strong offensive line play, committing to the run game, never allowing the game to dictate who you are and really allowing the play-action game to be the fundamental part of your passing game. And I think that’s what allows Malik Willis to play to his strengths.

“Now, he needs at least a year, if no two years, of just learning. This is a guy that’s [a] super talented, physical player, very bright young man but I don’t believe was actually stressed to develop that football intelligence … and I think if Tennessee could just be really smart and patient with him and allow him to really play a little bit of catch-up there, he’s got the chance to be a really good player.”

Dan Orlovsky: Kenny Pickett is in a good place with the Steelers

Despite his high praise for Willis, Orlovsky still thinks there’s a chance Pickett can succeed with the Steelers. Depending on what happens with the quarterback competition with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph, Pickett could have a chance to become the top quarterback in the class.

“I do think that Kenny Pickett’s in a good place for Pittsburgh,” Orlovsky said. “And I think that if I’m Pittsburgh, this is an open competition with the built-in [mentality] of this is Mitchell Trubisky’s job unless Kenny Pickett takes it from him. If that happens, then you feel good about that if you’re Pittsburgh that [you] made the right pick.

“The concern for me is the offensive line in Pittsburgh. It’s still a sub-par unit. If I was going to tell you what Kenny Pickett was good at and struggled with, it would be his mechanics in the pocket and leaving clean pockets and how much he just allows the rush to impact him throughout the game.