Could the New York Jets land this quarterback this offseason?
The New York Jets are in desperate need of a change under center, and with Dante Moore deciding to return to school for another year, the Jets won't be able to land a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft unless they reach.
Of course, New York could always take Alabama's Ty Simpson at No. 16 or trade back for Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, but both of those signal-callers are risky options.
So is it possible the Jets will find their answer on the free-agent market?
NFL insider Matt Lomboardo thinks so, revealing that New York is in the best position to land Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis this spring.
“Willis is likely to be the most coveted option on the open market after his ‘graduation’ from the Matt LaFleur Quarterback Finishing School in Green Bay," Lombardo wrote. "... Willis is likely to be one of the more coveted options across the league, and the Jets are clearly best positioned to land him."
Willis has become a very popular name thanks to how good he has looked in brief action across two seasons with the Packers. But there are also some who are very reluctant to tab him as a long-term starter.
Malik Willis. Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images.The 26-year-old played in four games and made one start in Green Bay this season, throwing for 422 yards and three touchdowns while completing 30 of his 35 passes. Last year, he went 40-for-54 with 550 yards and three scores.
Additionally, Willis totaled 261 rushing yards while punching in three scores on the ground throughout his tenure in the tundra.
As you can see, the Liberty product put forth a very small sample size with the Packers, and it should be noted that he tossed three interceptions without a touchdown in two seasons with the Tennessee Titans to begin his career.
Whether or not he is just a good backup or is capable of being a 17-game starter remains to be seen, but the Jets need to be careful here.
New York already fumbled by handing Justin Fields a two-year, $40 million contract, so it must avoid a similar mistake with Willis.
Spotrac is projecting Willis to bag a one-year, $10.6 million contract on the open market, but it stands to reason that he could get multiple years if a bidding war emerges.