Draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. says the Pittsburgh Steelers will choose Liberty quarterback Malik Willis with the 20th pick of the NFL Draft.

That’s on Kiper’s big board. It’s not nearly as big as Kiper’s hair but is bigger than Kenny Pickett’s hands. (Kiper has the Pitt quarterback going No. 11 to Washington.)

If the Steelers take Willis, it’s a lot different than getting Pickett.

Pickett started 49 games at Pitt and played in the ACC. Willis played for an independent in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, starting 23 games there.

Pickett played big-time football, and lots of it. Willis didn’t, and less than half as much.

That doesn’t mean Willis isn’t good.

It does mean there’s no way he starts in the NFL as a rookie.

As Kiper wrote, “(Willis) shouldn’t be asked to play in Week 1 in September. He can be erratic with his accuracy. He has all of the tools to be successful, but he’ll need to be coached hard.”

No problem. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada knows everything.

Willis was sacked 51 times with Liberty last season. So he won’t be shocked by his pass protection (or lack thereof) in Pittsburgh.

If the Steelers draft Willis, Mason Rudolph starts anyway, and the Steelers don’t get an offensive or defensive linemen with their first-round pick. They pass on somebody that would play right away in favor of somebody who won’t.

That’s OK if the Steelers believe Willis is their long-term quarterback. But it makes them significantly worse for the 2022 season.

That contradicts their stated goal of trying to win a Super Bowl every season. (That’s PR garbage anyway.)

There’s a report that the Steelers have narrowed their targets among free-agent quarterbacks to Teddy Bridgewater, Mitch Trubisky and Jameis Winston.

That goes nicely with last week’s reports (as listed in this space) that had Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers, Carson Wentz and Russell Wilson coming to Pittsburgh.

A reminder: Those reports are made up. Absolute fiction for the sake of ears, eyes and clicks.

Kiper doesn’t lie. But he’s just guessing.

Last season, Kiper got just six picks correct among the first round’s 32. But ESPN brought him back this year. He’s still a “draft expert.” Nice work if you can get it.

The Steelers’ offseason should be executed thusly:

• Sign Trubisky. He’d carry a reasonable price tag, is a former No. 2 pick overall, got a raw deal in Chicago despite getting the usually lousy Bears into the playoffs twice in four years and has a high upside. Have him compete with Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins.

• Draft a defensive lineman in the first round. This is even more urgent if Stephon Tuitt doesn’t return. Cameron Heyward is 32. Tyson Alualu is 34. The Steelers not only need talent on the defensive line, they need youth.

• Sign an established, quality offensive lineman in the first wave of free agency.

• Sign a decent cornerback in the first wave of free agency.

My plan isn’t as grandiose as others, but it still has snags.

The Steelers don’t fully guarantee contracts past the first year. (T.J. Watt was an exception.) That figures to hinder them dramatically in free agency’s first few days. Top players command guaranteed money.

The Steelers shouldn’t draft a quarterback this year. Wait until next year. That draft will have more better quarterbacks, and the Steelers likely will pick higher.

But it wouldn’t be shocking if the Steelers pick Willis.

Owner Art Rooney II seems a bit of a mark. He might pander to the fans who know only one thing: QUARTERBACK!

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