The Tennessee Titans have traded quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Willis, a third-round draft pick for the Titans in 2022, was originally meant to be a backup for Ryan Tannehill and a potential quarterback of the future. However, after Tannehill’s departure and the emergence of Will Levis as the starter, Willis became expendable. In his limited opportunities with the Titans, Willis showed potential as an athletic quarterback with the ability to make plays with his legs but struggled to consistently display a complete quarterback arsenal.
In Green Bay, Willis will compete for a backup role behind starter Jordan Love and alongside second-year pro Sean Clifford. It’s unclear how the depth chart will break down for the Packers or which backup quarterbacks they will retain on their 53-man roster at the start of the regular season. Seventh-round rookie Michael Pratt is also on the preseason roster for the Packers. With Love being one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks, Willis will have a second chance to prove himself and potentially earn a spot as a backup in Green Bay.
Willis appeared in eight games as a rookie for the Titans, including three starts when Tannehill was injured. He completed 53% of his passes for 5.3 yards per attempt with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown on 4.5 yards per carry. With the Titans moving forward with Levis as their starter and having signed Mason Rudolph in the offseason, Willis was deemed surplus to requirements in Tennessee. Now, he will have a fresh start in Green Bay and the opportunity to showcase his skills in a new environment.
The trade of Willis to the Packers also signifies the changing landscape for both teams at the quarterback position. With Love taking over as the starter for the Packers and Levis solidifying his role in Tennessee, both teams are looking to build for the future. For the Titans, moving on from Tannehill and giving Levis the reins shows a commitment to a new era at quarterback. In Green Bay, the trade for Willis adds depth behind Love and provides the team with another option at the position as they plan for the future.
Overall, the trade of Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers represents a fresh opportunity for the young quarterback to prove himself at the NFL level. With the Titans moving in a new direction at quarterback and the Packers looking to solidify their depth behind Love, Willis will have the chance to compete for a backup role and continue his development in Green Bay. While he showed potential in his limited opportunities with the Titans, Willis will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills in a new environment and potentially carve out a role as a valuable member of the Packers’ quarterback room.
