The Green Bay Packers made a low-risk trade for a high-upside backup QB shortly before the 53-man roster cutdown date. The 2025 seventh-round pick was swapped for a third-round selection in 2022, Malik Willis.
Willis played all three of Tennessee’s preseason games with one start and completed 20 of his 27 passes (74.1 percent) for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. In his regular season career with the Titans, Willis struggled. In his first two years in the NFL, Malik put up career numbers of 350 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions on 35-of-66 passing (53.0 percent) in 11 appearances.
Malik Willis Is Undefeated as Green Bay Packers Starter
Green Bay Packers Should Consider Signing Willis To Long Term Contract
Trading for Willis was a low-risk move for the Packers. Willis won’t have too much of a financial impact. The 25-year-old is set to make $1.1 million in 2024 and $1.4 million in 2025, which is the final year of his rookie contract.
Dusty Evely For Acme Packing Company broke down exactly how valuable Malik Willis has been for the Packers.
When they asked Willis to throw, it was with a more varied passing attack than we saw against the Colts. Yes, there were a decent amount of screens (5 screen calls for the game, which is not counting the RPO screen tags they had), but they also had him throwing downfield like he wasn’t doing against the Colts.
Yes, there was a decent amount behind the line, but they also drew up a couple of slot-fade shots for him to take (one of them coming on a big 3rd down to Christian Watson on the first drive). His ADOT (Average Depth of Target) of 7.1 was nearly a yard higher than the ADOT of 6.2 he posted in Week 2 (per RBSDM).
The most important thing Willis did was keep the ball safe. For the second straight game, Willis had 0 turnover-worthy plays (per PFF).
Even for just two games, such consistency from a quarterback in a brand-new system is ridiculously impressive. As Matt Lafleur said.
“I just cannot articulate the job that he’s done in a short period of time,” he said. “People can’t fathom that. I promise you. You guys don’t get it. I know you think you’ve got it, but you don’t get it. What he’s been able to do, I’ve never seen something like this. So hats off to him. Hats off to everybody around him, guys rallying, having his back.”
Following such impressive efforts, the Packers may look to extend Willis as a career backup for Jordan Love.
