Two franchises reportedly could be a great fit for Malik Willis' starting potential. The Green Bay Packers would undoubtedly love to keep him, but he's about to get paid as a free agent.
The Green Bay Packers would love to bring back quarterback Malik Willis. The issue is that he's arguably become the best backup quarterback in the NFL in his two seasons under Matt LaFleur's guidance in Green Bay.
Set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year (March 11, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET) Willis has earned himself a lucrative new contract thanks to what he's shown as Jordan Love's backup in Green Bay.
He's proven to be starting material -- at least in Green Bay's scheme.
Will he look the same outside of Green Bay's infrastructure and elite quarterback coaching? It's worth noting that quarterbacks who looked good in Green Bay in the past ended up not panning out elsewhere.
Matt Flynn, Aaron Rodgers' old backup, is perhaps the best example of that.
Still, Willis is worth the shot, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes there are two franchises, in particular, who will be after his services.
That would be the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
"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 recently 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 flashed his high-end potential with Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) runs for a gain against the Chicago Bears during their football game Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Willis was selected out of Liberty by the Tennessee Titans withthe No. 86 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. They drafted him because of this otherworldly athleticism and elite upside, but he was never able to find it in their organization.
In two seasons, Willis started just three games, throwing for 350 yards and no touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He did rush for one touchdown as a Titan.
The Titans drafted Will Levis in the second round of the very next draft, and Willis was relegated to QB3 behind Levis and Mason Rudolph.
The Titans traded Willis to the Packers for a seventh-round draft pick before the 2024 season, and he immediately made an impact for the Packers.
With Love going down at the end of Green Bay's Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, Willis started the next two games of the season. He went 2-0 as the starter, and that included a win against Tennessee.
Willis came in at the end of this past season, with Love dealing with a concussion, and again flashed his brilliance. A true dual threat, he finished the 2025 season completing 30-of-35 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed 22 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Willis can do this:
As well as this:
He absolutely deserves another shot at being an NFL starter, and he absolutely deserves to get paid.
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