The Green Bay Packers weren’t satisfied with the performances of Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt during the preseason, so they took alternative measures to find their backup quarterback. Green Bay sent a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans on Monday in exchange for Malik Willis.
Destined to be the third quarterback on Tennessee’s depth chart, Willis will have the opportunity to be the first option in Green Bay should Jordan Love get hurt.
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Willis appeared in 11 games over his first two seasons, including three starts. He’s completed 53% of his passing attempts for 350 yards and has yet to throw an NFL touchdown pass. However, he flashed his mobility at times, having rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Still only 25, Willis has plenty of time to develop behind Love. Given his overall talent, athleticism, and upside, the Packers likely believe he has a higher ceiling than Clifford and Pratt. Willis also offers more stability as the backup.
To get a more in-depth look at what the Packers saw in Willis, we’re going to review some of his tape from his first two seasons and the 2024 preseason.
Let’s begin.
All three of Willis’ starts came during his rookie season, with the Titans running a very simplified offense. However, he did get to show off his running ability on his first career rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans. Willis executes the read option and even breaks a tackle before using his speed and toughness to find the endzone.
There have been concerns about his processing and decision-making. In the clip below, the Texans get quick pressure against Willis. Forced into a hurried throw, he doesn’t see the linebacker and throws an interception. Taking care of the football is a top priority for NFL quarterbacks, and Willis is still learning that.
When given time, he is capable of making good decisions. During this next play, he makes the correct read and hits the tight end running an out, but the pass is low. Better placement may have allowed the tight end to turn upfield to pick up more yards. Accuracy is another area in which Willis needs to be more consistent.
Getting Willis on the move is a recipe for success. It allows him to read half the field, leading to better decisions. Obviously, the potential is there.
This next clip is from this year’s preseason. Willis looks a little bouncy, but he does a good job of navigating the pocket and going through his progressions before making a throw. It’s a nice, tight spiral, but unfortunately, it misses the intended target. The process looks good; he just needs to throw a better pass.
The Packers probably underlined and circled this next play while they were evaluating Willis. This throw illustrates his arm strength/talent and why he is a good project for your QB room. It’s an absolute dart into a tight window where only his receiver can catch it.
Willis rushed for over 2,000 yards in college. When you see plays like this, it’s not hard to see why. Even when the edge tries to contain the option, Willis is fast enough to turn the corner and pick up a sizable gain.
You can see noticeable growth in Willis’ processing. He goes through multiple reads in the clip below before checking the ball down to his running back. He looks much more comfortable in Year 3.
This is a good example of Willis delivering an accurate pass in the face of pressure. Notice his footwork in the pocket and how he places this ball on the inside shoulder of his receiver, away from the defender.
Despite his maturing, Willis can still be slightly overzealous at times, like on this layered throw. He clearly has some elite arm talent, but this is a dangerous decision that he ends up paying the price for. He would have been better off extending the play and waiting for someone to get open. Even a throwaway would have been better. There was no need to rush as he was also operating from a clean pocket.
Let’s finish on a high note. Willis has a big arm, and he flashed it during the final preseason game. The receiver wins on his fade from the slot, and Willis drops in a nice ball right into his pocket. You could argue that it’s a tad underthrown, but you can’t argue with the result.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Green Bay acquired a third-round talent for a seventh-rounder and significantly bolstered their quarterback depth. Willis is a legitimate dual-threat QB with a big arm and ample room for growth. While his processing and accuracy need refinement, his athleticism and potential offer a clear upgrade over Clifford and Pratt. It will be interesting to see how quarterbacks coach Tom Clements can further develop Willis, especially after his recent success with Jordan Love.