The Green Bay Packers were not satisfied with the performances of Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt during the preseason, so they resorted to other measures to find a replacement quarterback. Green Bay sent a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans on Monday in exchange for Malik Willis.
Willis is expected to be the third quarterback in Tennessee’s lineup and has the opportunity to be Green Bay’s first choice should Jordan Love get injured.
Selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Willis has appeared in 11 games in his first two seasons, including three starts. He has completed 53% of his pass attempts for 350 yards and has yet to throw an NFL touchdown pass. However, he has shown off his agility at times, running for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Willis is only 25 and has plenty of time to develop behind Love. Given his talent, athleticism and potential, the Packers likely believe he has more potential than Clifford and Pratt. Willis also offers more stability as a backup.
To get a deeper look into what the Packers saw in Willis, we’ll look through some of his footage from his first two seasons and the 2024 preseason.
Let’s begin.
All three of Willis’ appearances came during his rookie season, when the Titans played a very simplified offense. However, he was able to showcase his running ability on his first career rushing touchdown against the Houston Texans. Willis runs the read option and even breaks through a tackle before using his speed and toughness to find the end zone.
There have been concerns about his processing and decision making. In the clip below, the Texans quickly put pressure on Willis. He is forced into a hasty throw, but 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.
If given time, he is able to make good decisions. On this next play, he reads the ball correctly and hits the tight end who is making an out, but the pass is too deep. Better placement might have allowed the tight end to turn forward and gain more yards. Accuracy is also an area where Willis needs to become more consistent.
Getting Willis moving is a recipe for success. It allows him to read half the field, which leads to better decisions. The potential is obviously there.
The next clip is from this year’s preseason. Willis looks a little shaky, but he navigates the pocket well and goes through his routines before making a throw. It’s a nice, tight spiral, but unfortunately misses the intended target. The process looks good; he just needs to throw a better pass.
The Packers likely underlined and circled this next play when evaluating Willis. This throw exemplifies his arm strength/talent and why he’s a good project for your quarterback 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 outside tries to limit the option, Willis is quick enough to get around the corner and get a sizable lead.
You can see a definite improvement in Willis’ processing. In the clip below, he reads the ball several times before passing it to his running back. He seems much more relaxed in his third year.
This is a good example of Willis delivering an accurate pass despite pressure. Notice his footwork in the pocket and how he puts the ball on his receiver’s inside shoulder, away from the defender.
Despite his maturity, Willis can still be a little overeager at times, like on this layered throw. He clearly has outstanding talent with his throwing arm, 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 free. Even a throw would have been better. There was no need to rush, as he was also operating from a clean pocket.
Let’s end on a positive note. Willis has a strong arm and he showed it off in the last preseason game. The receiver wins with his fade out of the slot and Willis throws a beautiful ball right into his pocket. You could argue it was thrown a bit short, but the result is undeniable.
Diploma
Ultimately, Green Bay signed a third-round talent for a seventh-round pick, significantly bolstering its quarterback depth. Willis is a true dual-threat QB with a strong arm and plenty of room for growth. While his finishing and accuracy still need to be refined, his athleticism and potential are a clear improvement over Clifford and Pratt. It will be interesting to see how quarterback coach Tom Clements can continue to develop Willis, especially after his recent success with Jordan Love.
