Malik Willis’ strong play has put multiple teams on alert entering 2026 offseason — and his best fit in free agency is very much up for debate
Which NFL franchises should be targeting Packers QB Malik Willis the most this offseason?
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis has become one of the hottest names in the NFL over the course of the past few weeks. Another successful bridge for Jordan Love, paired with a questionable 2026 NFL Draft class, has plenty of folks buzzing that Willis could be the prize of the offseason for quarterback-hungry teams not picking in the top-three.
Willis has less than 200 career pass attempts to his name, but his effectiveness in Green Bay is a far cry from his work as a rookie for the Titans. What have the Packers given Willis over the past two seasons, and why should we believe that he’s ready to spread his wings and fly elsewhere in the league? Furthermore, who are the most attractive candidates to serve as his next opportunity? There’s no shortage of candidates.
Multiple writers from our A to Z Sports roster chimed in with why their team is the best fit for Willis’ services, but first, our Packers writer, Wendell Ferreira, details how Willis improved in Green Bay.
What Matt LaFleur and the Packers have done for Malik Willis the last two seasons
Nobody in the NFL was willing to give up more than a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Malik Willis 16 months ago for a reason. His stint in Nashville was as bad as you could see from a third-round pick who was universally perceived as a Day 1 talent. Willis himself admitted things weren’t great with the Titans and explained why he improved in Green Bay.
“More than anything, in Tennessee, I kind of got thrown in the fire,” Willis said. “I wouldn’t say I was ready yet. I hadn’t seen much. It was my first time being under center almost every single play. I didn’t do that in college. Just understanding the different types of defenses you see in the league versus college. Obviously, you’re going to see more 11 and 12 in college. In Tennessee, we got into all these different personnel groupings. Now you’re seeing base, sub, dime, and understanding what comes with that. I just wasn’t ready at the time.”
Willis has had three starts and several games with extended action over the past two years, and the evolution as a well-rounded quarterback is evident, even by how Matt LaFleur calls the game. In the first game against the Indianapolis Colts, it was a run-heavy plan with some play-action short passes sprinkled in.
Against the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday, Willis had 21 passes and nine runs, versus only seven running back rushing attempts. That was partially circumstantial, but it also shows how confident LaFleur is in Willis, too — outside of quarterback-designed runs, the play-calling is mostly the same as if Love were there.
On the Packers, Willis had time to sit back and watch, study tape, understand why LaFleur calls certain plays, and how defenses react to them. Willis is not a perfect passer by any means, and you can still see when he leaves open receivers on the field. But with the added element of athleticism, he makes up for it, especially because LaFleur’s system eases the quarterback’s reading process by reducing it to a few options per play.
The physical talent was always there. During his time in Green Bay, he had the time and the perfect system to develop as a processor, which is why his perception around the league changed so much, so quickly.
— Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports Green Bay
Teams that could have a compelling market and bid for Malik Willis this offseason
Pittsburgh Steelers
Make no bones about it, Aaron Rodgers has been the best quarterback the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger. He might be 42 years old, but his arm is livelier than ever, and when he needs to step in and run the show, you can still see how much juice he has left.
The one portion of his skillset that has eroded: mobility. Rodgers struggles to navigate the pocket and make those off-schedule throws that will send him to the Hall of Fame. However, should Rodgers and the Steelers lose on Sunday and watch the playoffs on the couch, there is a good chance he calls it a career.
Between the incoming class of quarterbacks and where Pittsburgh sits in terms of draft positioning, finding the future of the franchise in the 2026 NFL Draft feels unlikely as we sit here in December. That means it might be time for another bridge, only one who is younger and a tad more mobile.
Insert Willis, who, in every game since he joined the Packers, has looked the part and meets the threshold of a Mike Tomlin signal caller. If Rodgers is back walking on the Malibu beach in the offseason, I wouldn’t be surprised if Willis is a Pittsburgh Steeler.
— Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers News
NFL insider proves that the Steelers will be sticking by DK Metcalf despite being able to void his contract after fan altercation
The Steelers have no intentions of moving on from Metcalf.
Arizona Cardinals
With the Arizona Cardinals’ expected situation regarding Kyler Murray this offseason, finding a route to a new quarterback will be interesting. They could look to package picks and move up the draft board to take a rookie early in round one. That said, it would be a costly draft move in terms of draft compensation, so going after Willis’ potential may be a smarter move. Willis may land a “prove it”- style deal this offseason, but that may entail a multi-year commitment.
With the Packers in limited reps, he’s proven to be dynamic and efficient. The Cardinals have been frustrated at times with Murray’s “on schedule” struggles in recent seasons, and Willis will have plenty of motivation to prove himself as a long-term option if he’s a starting QB in 2026. Arizona should absolutely have him on its radar as an option this offseason after yet another frustrating campaign.
— Adam Holt, A to Z Sports
NFL Draft
3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Giants and Jets make huge trade for a quarterback as Raiders, Rams, Cardinals, Dolphins add passers
Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore kick things off at QB, and several WRs are picked in the first round after Carnell Tate goes top 10.
Minnesota Vikings
The quarterback position has been quite the wild ride for the Minnesota Vikings since head coach Kevin O’Connell took over. He has started eight different quarterbacks in his four seasons, and the book is still out on J.J. McCarthy.
There will be a priority put on the quarterback position this offseason, and Willis makes a ton of sense. He has an excellent skill set that O’Connell can maximize, and the way the Vikings run their offense is similar to how Matt LaFleur does in Green Bay.
That success can translate to what O’Connell does, and he understands how to maximize the output of a veteran quarterback. Is it the best spot for Willis? He wouldn’t be a guaranteed starter going into the season. Still, playing for an elite offensive mind like O’Connell, who has a track record of making quarterbacks, there is a major draw there, especially on a short-term bet on yourself contract.
— Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings News
Kevin O’Connell sets the record straight about Minnesota Vikings future for Brian Flores
The Minnesota Vikings want to bring back Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator, and Kevin O’Connell was emphatic in saying so.
Indianapolis Colts
Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Colts are entering the off-season with a lot of mystery surrounding the QB position. The team seemed to think they had found at least a short-term starting option in Daniel Jones, who was having the best season of his career.
He saw it cut short, though, after tearing his right Achilles tendon, which makes things more complicated than expected. The team hasn’t outright said it, but it sure doesn’t feel like they view Anthony Richardson as a potential starter down the line.
So, if they want to explore options outside of Jones for 2026, I think Willis might be their best option. He has looked significantly improved in Green Bay, as opposed to what he showed the league with the Titans. He has a lot of talent and could be the next career resurgence story in the NFL, and the Colts should definitely be one of the teams at the front of the line when free agency starts.
— Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts News
Colts need a major culture reset, but will they be willing to make the incredibly tough decisions that would require
The time has come for the Colts to consider firing Chris Ballard and finding a new leader in the GM role, but will the team’s new ownership choose to make such a drastic change after missing the playoffs?
Miami Dolphins
What do you do when your $212 million quarterback goes belly up in the first year of his four-year extension? You rip the cord, tuck, and roll. The Dolphins sound finished with Tua Tagovailoa for good, regardless of whether they retain head coach Mike McDaniel. But Miami’s roster was assembled with the idea that it would have a long-term quarterback. Instead, it’s back to square one.
If the Dolphins retain McDaniel, you could argue they have the best situation for Willis. He would unlock more of McDaniel’s renewed investment into the run game; he’d have an explosive run game headlined by De’Von Achane, a prolific speed receiver in Jaylen Waddle, and the Dolphins could use one (or more) of their five top-100 picks to put more weapons into the wide receiver corps as the team transitions from Tyreek Hill.
One thing Miami probably won’t be? The highest bidder — it has to navigate one more year of full guarantees for Tagovailoa.
— Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports NFL Staff Writer
Miami Dolphins News
The Dolphins’ quarterback crossroads may finally be intersecting with a perfect pivot in 2026
Is Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa pivot currently residing in Green Bay?
