The Packers’ Late Trade for Malik Willis: A Game-Changer for the Team’s 2024 Season

In an unexpected turn of events, the Green Bay Packers made a highly effective late-minute trade, acquiring quarterback Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans just before the final roster cuts in late August. This trade, which cost the Packers only a seventh-round pick, quickly turned out to be a game-changer, with Willis playing an integral role in their success throughout the 2024 season.

Malik Willis’ Impact on the Packers

Willis immediately made an impact, starting two key games, leading the team to victories over the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. He also saw action in five other games, including extended appearances against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears. The numbers speak for themselves: Willis completed 74.1% of his passes, averaging an impressive 10.2 yards per attempt, throwing three touchdowns, and, notably, no interceptions. His passer rating of 124.8 showed that he was not only efficient but also a reliable option when called upon.

What’s Next for Malik Willis?

Despite his impressive showing in 2024, the question arises: what’s next for Willis in 2025? As he remains under his rookie contract, set to earn $1.4 million in the final year of his deal, the Packers face a crucial decision. Most likely, the team will retain Willis as a backup for Jordan Love, giving him an offseason to further integrate into Matt LaFleur’s offense. This would allow the Packers to keep a solid backup plan in place, ensuring that they’re well-prepared at the quarterback position.

However, the NFL is a business, and every player has a price. If another team comes knocking with an enticing offer, Packers’ General Manager Brian Gutekunst would have to consider it. The Packers have a long history of acquiring and trading quarterbacks, from Ty Detmer and Mark Brunell to Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks. If a deal can improve the team’s future, Gutekunst is known to pull the trigger.

The Market for Backup Quarterbacks

To understand what kind of return the Packers might expect for Malik Willis, it’s helpful to look at recent quarterback trades. One of the most notable examples is the 2016 trade where the Minnesota Vikings sent a first- and a future fourth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater suffered an injury. However, it’s unlikely that the Packers will see a similar haul for Willis, given that he is not slated to be a starter in Green Bay. This reduces his trade leverage significantly.

A more realistic scenario would be something akin to the trade that saw the San Francisco 49ers acquire Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots for a second-round pick. Garoppolo had started only two games at that point and was in the final year of his rookie contract. More recently, backup quarterbacks like Joe Flacco and Josh Dobbs were traded for far less—Flacco moved to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round pick, and Dobbs was traded twice for a swap of fifth- and seventh-round picks.

Malik Willis’ Market Value

Malik Willis’ time with the Titans wasn’t filled with stellar performances, but in Green Bay, he showed that under the right circumstances, he could be a solid, dynamic player. While some teams may still hold strong pre-draft grades on him, Willis has yet to prove himself as a full-time starter. His success in a small sample size with the Packers will likely limit his market value. A fourth-round pick seems like a realistic return, with a third-round pick potentially in play if a team is willing to give him another shot. A second-round pick seems highly unlikely unless a desperate team sees significant untapped potential.

Is Trading Willis the Right Move?

If the Packers are offered a third- or fourth-round pick, they’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of trading away a player who showed his value in 2024. Willis’ performance demonstrated how critical a solid backup quarterback can be, and Green Bay doesn’t currently have another viable option behind Jordan Love. Sean Clifford, the third-string quarterback, is a fifth-round pick from 2023, but his underwhelming performance led the Packers to seek Willis in the first place.

Additionally, while the Packers could pursue another developmental free agent, such as Trey Lance or Zach Wilson, there are no guarantees that these players would bring the same level of production and locker room presence as Willis. The draft also remains an option, but the team’s previous attempts to develop quarterbacks through the draft—such as Michael Pratt—haven’t yielded immediate results.

Long-Term Considerations

Another factor to consider is that Malik Willis will be a free agent in 2026. If he performs well in 2025 and signs elsewhere, the Packers could potentially receive a compensatory pick in 2027, depending on how active the team is in unrestricted free agency. This could offer Green Bay some long-term value even if they don’t trade him now.

Conclusion

The Packers’ trade for Malik Willis has turned out to be a win, with the quarterback providing depth and valuable production in 2024. Whether or not the team decides to retain Willis or trade him for draft picks, it’s clear that his performance has raised important questions about the team’s quarterback depth and the value of backup quarterbacks in the NFL. If the price is right, the Packers may make a move, but trading away a player who has proven his worth might be harder than it seems.