Malik Willis will be a compelling figure to track as he moves through free agency.
As the backup to Jordan Love in Green Bay over the past two seasons, Willis posted a 134.6 passer rating while completing 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He also ran for 241 yards on 42 carries (6.2 yards per attempt), tallying three more scores on the ground. And now, with his rookie contract having run out, any QB-needy team out there is about to have a chance to sign him.
It’s true that lavishing a megabucks contract on a QB with just six career starts under his belt (three with the Packers) will make some owners squeamish. And, yes, the former third-rounder was labeled a bust by many onlookers after compiling a 49.4 passer rating, with a 53 percent completion rate and a 0:3 TD-to-INT ratio, in 11 games over two seasons with Tennessee. But he’s significantly improved since that lackluster run, showing himself to be a dynamic quarterback who can make plays inside and outside of the pocket with his mobility.
I studied the tape from 2024 and 2025, and Willis looked nothing like the overwhelmed player who struggled mightily as a young starter for the Titans. He played with outstanding composure and poise, relying on his stellar supporting cast to make plays on pinpoint throws as part of an extensive catch-and-run passing-concept menu. Additionally, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder tormented defenses with his playmaking ability as a dual-threat quarterback. Willis’ splash plays on designed quarterback runs and impromptu scrambles kept defenders guessing, while adding an extra dimension to the Packers’ offense.
Given the way the young quarterback flourished whenever he stepped onto the field in green and gold, the fascination with Willis’ potential as a full-time starter has reached a crescendo, with free agency set to begin on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. After taking some time to assess the quarterback market and which teams would best fit the mobile playmaker’s talents, here are three enticing options for the quarterback who sits atop Gregg Rosenthal’s ranking of 101 best free agents of 2026:
