Malik Willis #7 of the Tennessee Titans
After three seasons in Tennessee, Malik Willis’ time with the Titans has come to an end. The former third-round pick is being traded to the Green Bay Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Willis, once considered a potential first-rounder, leaves the Titans as they reshape their quarterback depth chart under new management.
Willis’ fall to the 86th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was one of the more surprising slides in recent draft history. Despite pre-draft hype, his performances with the Titans justified the league’s skepticism. In his rookie season, Willis struggled in limited action, completing just 50.8% of his passes and being benched in favor of journeyman Josh Dobbs late in the year. He ends his Titans career with a 1-2 record as a starter and only 61 passes thrown over two seasons.
The trade to Green Bay offers Willis a fresh start. With the Packers undergoing a transition of their own following the departure of Aaron Rodgers, Willis enters a QB room that features Jordan Love as the presumptive starter. Love’s backups, Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt, have struggled in the preseason, leaving the door open for Willis to compete for the No. 2 job. While Willis will have to catch up on Matt LaFleur’s system, his arrival immediately places pressure on Clifford and Pratt to perform.
For the Titans, the trade represents a clear move toward a new era. New GM Ran Carthon has been active in overhauling the offense this offseason, and the decision to move on from Willis is another step in that direction. Tennessee will now rely on veteran Mason Rudolph, who was signed to a one-year deal in free agency, and second-round pick Will Levis to back up starter Ryan Tannehill. The Titans may also be in the market for a third-string quarterback once roster cuts are made around the league.
Willis, 25, joins Green Bay with two years remaining on his rookie contract. A dual-threat quarterback who posted impressive numbers at Liberty — 47 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing scores in his final two seasons — Willis now has the opportunity to restart his career with the Packers. Whether he can solidify himself as a reliable backup to Love or face another potential roster cut will depend on how quickly he adapts to his new environment.
The move highlights the unpredictability of the NFL, where even highly-touted prospects can quickly find themselves on the move. As Willis seeks a new beginning in Green Bay, both the Titans and Packers hope to benefit from the fresh changes in their quarterback rooms heading into the 2024 season.
