Latest intel connects Packers quarterback to two logical landing spots that won’t surprise anyone
Malik Willis is set to hit free agency in March.
Two years in Green Bay were enough for former third-round pick quarterback Malik Willis to rebuild his value in the NFL. In his two seasons behind Jordan Love on the depth chart, Willis was excellent in every possible chance he had to play, including three starts, and reaches free agency with a realistic opportunity to at least compete for a starting job.
That won’t happen with the Packers, though, so it’s highly likely that Willis will end up somewhere else.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals are the two teams to watch.
“Two teams I’ll be watching to pursue Malik Willis, if they can find someone to take their current quarterbacks, are the Cardinals and Dolphins,” Fowler wrote. “The ties are obvious: New Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley got a head start on Willis from Green Bay, and new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur can get intimate knowledge of Willis’ game from LaFleur’s brother, Matt. The Cardinals and Dolphins are saddled with huge guarantees for Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, though. The Browns were my sleeper for Willis, but the hiring of Todd Monken might change that equation. He seems open to working with the quarterbacks on the roster, including Shedeur Sanders.”
Malik Willis is the ideal bridge quarterback
The Dolphins and Cardinals hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Matt LaFleur’s brother Mike as their new head coaches. Therefore, the connections to Malik Willis are obvious.
And while teams prefer to draft their own quarterbacks for long-term upside, Willis seems to be the perfect bridge option. He is only 26 years old, so there’s plenty of upside for Willis to truly establish himself as a long-term starter. He failed under poor circumstances on the Tennessee Titans, but proved on the Packers that he’s a viable option to start.
“We’d love to have Malik back, but to be realistic, I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to maybe play more than he would here,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a press conference last week. “So we’ll see where that goes.”
The Packers sent the Titans a seventh-round pick in 2024 to acquire Malik Willis, and now they’re set to get a higher compensatory pick for losing him in free agency.
In an attempt to replace Willis on the depth chart behind Love, the Packers have signed Desmond Ridder late in the season and Kyle McCord after the elimination to enter the offseason with more flexibility.
In two years for the Packers, Malik Willis started three games and appeared in 11. He completed 78.65% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions (101.6 passer rating), in addition to 42 rushing attempts for 261 yards and three more touchdowns.
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