NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper's first mock draft of the year has this class' 'most talented quarterback' heading to Washington.
Washington's need for a quarterback is no secret, and both coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew have made it clear that they will look high and low this offseason to find their best option(s).
As far as NFL draft analyst - and best friend of Bill Tobin - Mel Kiper is concerned, the answer for Washington lies in the draft. Sorry, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers - apparently it's not meant to be. To be more specific, the answer hails not from North Carolina, Ole Miss, or Cincinnati, but from Liberty.
Says Kiper:
Like Denver, Washington could be in the veteran QB market, but I like the fit with Willis. Washington can't go into the season with Taylor Heinicke as the starter. - Mel Kiper, ESPN.
After spending two years at Auburn, Willis transferred to Liberty in order to gain more playing time. Here he went on to make 23 appearances, passing for 5,107 yards and 47 touchdowns. Combine these stats with his aforementioned rushing record, and according to SI's NFL Draft Bible: "Willis possesses borderline-ideal traits for a dual-threat NFL quarterback."
Given his lack of top-level experience, Kiper mentioning that Washington could be on the lookout for a veteran feels like the right call. As with Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Trey Lance with the San Francisco 49ers, Willis would likely benefit from potentially sitting a year behind a solid veteran.
In that circumstance, the question is could Taylor Heinicke - their only quarterback under contract - fulfill this role, or should they be on the lookout elsewhere?