The Green Bay Packers have played a major role in rebuilding the stock of quarterback Malik Willis. The former Tennessee Titans quarterback was always going to be a backup to Jordan Love when the Packers acquired him via a trade with the AFC South team in 2024. But in the 11 games he saw action on the field with Green Bay, the former Liberty Flames signal-caller managed to impress in most of them.
Despite how the 2025 season ended for Green Bay, the team is set with Love as its No. 1 quarterback for a long time. And if Willis wants to be QB1 again, it will have to be with another team.
Former NFL QB thinks Willis is about to hit pay dirt in the offseason
The offseason presents a perfect opportunity for Willis to find a new team that will make him the alpha under center, as he’s about to become a free agent.
There are NFL teams out there in need of a quarterback, which can be addressed via the NFL draft. But one major prospect had already backed away from turning pro in 2026, with Dante Moore of the Oregon Ducks deciding to stay in Eugene and defer his pursuit of his NFL dreams for one more year, leaving QB-needy NFL franchises with one fewer option in the 2026 draft.
But with Willis expected to hit the free-agent market, former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky believes that the Packers backup QB will soon make bank.
“I reiterate, Malik Willis is going to be highly paid,” Orlovsky wrote in a social media post on X, as a reaction to the Moore news.
I reiterate
Malik Willis is going to be highly paid https://t.co/DT7ZU6PJrX— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 14, 2026
Some of the teams that could be looking for a new QB once free agency opens in March are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and the New York Jets.
So far in his tenure with Green Bay, Willis, who will be 27 in May, has racked up 972 passing yards and six touchdowns against zero interceptions. In addition, he has rushed for 261 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries.
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