The Green Bay Packers are set to welcome a new backup quarterback in 2026. Malik Willis, who has filled that role for the past two seasons after a savvy pre-season trade with the Tennessee Titans, is moving on. Green Bay snagged him for just a seventh-round pick, and what a bargain it turned out to be.
Willis emerged as one of the top backup quarterbacks in the league, rivaling even Mac Jones. During his tenure with the Packers, he boasted a 78.7% completion rate, threw for 972 yards, and notched six touchdowns without a single interception, achieving a stellar passer rating of 134.6.
His impressive performance in relief of Jordan Love in 2024 and 2025 has made Willis a hot commodity in the upcoming free agency. While the market is unpredictable, it's clear that his price tag has likely surpassed what Green Bay is willing to pay. The big question now is whether a new team will see the same level of success with him.
Before his Green Bay stint, Willis struggled with the Titans. Drafted in the third round in 2022, he posted a 53.0% completion percentage, 350 passing yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions, resulting in a 49.4 passer rating over two seasons.
Despite his turnaround with the Packers, NFL analyst Bill Barnwell ranks Willis as a backup or borderline starter among free agents. Barnwell cautions that a new team might not replicate Green Bay's success with him:
“Someone’s going to take the plunge on Willis, who was virtually unplayable before looking eminently comfortable in three spot starts for an injured Jordan Love over the past two seasons.
“Willis has averaged a whopping 10.9 yards per pass attempt and 6.2 yards per rush in Green Bay, comfortably shouldering a meaningful role in the offense even while taking over midgame, as he did against the Bears late last season.
“Is he a Matt LaFleur creation? That’s too simplistic of an argument for me.
LaFleur did an excellent job of building both quarterback run staples and play-action concepts off those ideas for his young quarterback, but Willis had to execute those plays at a high level, too. (We’re long past the point where simply introducing those plays is going to flummox professional defenses.)
“By leaving the Packers, Willis enters an uncertain world where his new team might not have a clue. The logical thing would be for that offense to install the same concepts that worked for Willis elsewhere and go from there, but, well, this isn’t always a rational league.”
Barnwell highlights the impact of Matt LaFleur's offensive scheme in Willis’ resurgence. The real test will be how much of that success was due to the system and how much was Willis’ own growth.
Any team picking him up would be wise to integrate some of the RPOs and quarterback runs that LaFleur used effectively. These strategies kept defenses on their toes and opened up passing opportunities downfield.
However, as Barnwell points out, not every team will recognize or implement these strategies, and if they don't, Willis might struggle, making it a risky signing.