Malik Willis will be a compelling figure to watch as he moves forward in free agency.
As Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay the past two seasons, Willis posted a 134.6 passer rating while completing 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He also ran for 241 yards on 42 carries (6.2 yards per attempt), adding three more scores on the ground. And now, with his rookie contract exhausted, any team in need of a QB is about to have a chance to sign him.
Admittedly, lavishing a mega-dollar contract on a QB with just six career starts (three with the Packers) will make some owners squeamish. And yes, the former third-rounder was labeled a bust by many viewers after compiling a 49.4 passer rating, with a 53 percent completion rate and a 0:3 TD-to-INT ratio, in 11 games over two seasons with Tennessee. But he has improved significantly since that lackluster stretch, proving to be a dynamic quarterback who can make plays in and out of the pocket with his mobility.
I studied the 2024 and 2025 tapes, and Willis looked nothing like the overwhelmed player who struggled mightily as a young starter for the Titans. He played with exceptional composure and poise, relying on his stellar supporting cast to make plays with precise shots as part of an extensive catch and run step concept menu. Additionally, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder tormented defenses with his playmaking ability as a dual-threat quarterback. Willis’ plays on quarterback designed runs and improvised scrambles kept defenders guessing, while adding an extra dimension to the Packers’ offense.
Given the way the young quarterback blossomed every time he took the field in green and gold, the fascination with Willis’ potential as a full-time starter has reached a crescendo, with free agency set to begin on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. After taking some time to evaluate the quarterback market and which teams would best suit the mobile playmaker’s talents, here are three attractive options for the quarterback who sits atop Gregg Rosenthal’s ranking of the top 101 free agents of 2026: