NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 22: Quarterback Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a rushing touchdown with Jayden Reed #11 against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
One Green Bay Packers free agent that is certain to find a new team in 2026 is quarterback Malik Willis.
That’s because he made the most of every opportunity he had when filling in for starter Jordan Love. In 11 appearances with the Packers, Willis won three out of four starts, and threw for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also rushed for 261 yards and three TDs.
Willis will now search for a team that he can be the permanent starter for, or at least get a legitimate shot at doing so. However, not everybody is sold that he can pull it off. Kevin Patra of NFL.com identified eight free agents who could be misvalued during the offseason, and Willis topped his list.
NFL Analyst Warns Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis Could Be ‘Overpriced’
There is a case to make that Willis is the best available free agent quarterback of the 2026 offseason. The overall crop of QBs is pretty weak overall, which leads Patra to believe that whichever team signs Willis will have to overpay for him.
“The quarterback market in 2026 isn’t pretty. There are few veteran options that offer much upside. Most are the tired trove we’ve seen plenty of through the years — Russell Wilson, Mitchell Trubisky, Marcus Mariota and Kenny Pickett, among others. Add in the fact that the draft is expected to be sparse in for-sure QB talent, and it’s an ugly year to need a quality passer. In that setting, Willis sits as an intriguing candidate.
“The former Titans third-round pick played well in Green Bay last season, completing 85.7% of 35 pass attempts for 422 yards and three TDs in four games (one start). Willis also showcased his rushing ability, generating 123 yards on 22 carries with two scores. He looked leaps and bounds better than his scattershot early-career struggles. But, was that a byproduct of a good offense under Matt LaFleur and a small sample size? I can’t fault whatever team takes a shot on Willis. His upside is better than most available signal-callers. Yet, with just six career starts, Willis is still far from a sure thing. Handing him the reins, particularly if there are significant guarantees, would be a gamble.”
If Willis does secure a lucrative contract, there will certainly be a high-risk, high-reward aspect to it. Although he’s flashed, Willis is still largely unproven. He has just six career starts in the NFL, and likely will not end up in as good of a situation that he had in Green Bay.
Looking Ahead at Packers Backup QB Situation
GettyQB Desmond Ridder formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons.
The Packers know the value of a backup QB better than anybody. With Willis out of the picture, they currently have Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord on their roster behind Love. Ridder was a highly touted prospect during the 2022 NFL Draft. He has 18 career starts under his belt, and has played for six different franchises.
McCord was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, and spent the season on their practice squad. Green Bay signed him to a reserve/futures contract back in January. If the Packers don’t feel as though Ridder or McCord are up for the No. 2 QB role, they could look at some outside options such as Trey Lance or Marcus Mariota.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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