Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis, a former castoff, now tops NFL free agency rankings. He's poised for a massive payday after showcasing elite dual-threat talent.
There are a ton of NFL players entering free agency this offseason.
In fact, nearly 600 players are expected to be free agents at the start of the new league year, according to The Athletic.
That's a lot of talent possibly switching helmets this offseason, and unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers are essentially guaranteed to be on the losing end of one of those transactions.
That would be the case of backup quarterback Malik Willis, who has played well enough as Jordan Love's No. 2 over the past two seasons that there's a realistic chance that he earns a ton of money on the free agency market.
The Packers have their franchise quarterback in Love, but there are plenty of teams out there that would love to have a quarterback like Willis on their roster.
In fact, Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com recently ranked Willis as the top free agent in this class. He ranked 101 of the top free agents of 2026, and Willis headlined his list.
"I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur," Rosenthal wrote. "Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof."
In two seasons in Green Bay, Willis completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns compared to zero interceptions. He also rushed 42 times for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) runs for a gain against New York Jets linebacker Zaire Barnes (53) during their football game Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.Willis was 3-1 as a starter. One of those wins came against the Tennessee Titans, who traded him away to the Packers for a seventh-round pick.
The Titans selected Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Liberty. They quickly moved on from him in favor of Will Levis.
The Packers took the Titans' "trash" and turned Willis into a treasure. The fact that he's considered the top free agent available this offseason is a massive honor. Sure, it's one person's opinion, but going from a castoff to an elite free agent pickup is a tremendous story.
The Packers will undoubtedly hate to see Willis go, but he's earned this opportunity.
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