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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 27: Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers are going to be in the market for a new backup quarterback this offseason, because their current backup is about to get paid. QB Malik Willis, a former third-round pick of the Titans, has flashed considerable potential in limited action for the Packers over the last two seasons. Now, he’s set to his free agency for the first time in his NFL career, and he could be in line for a major bag.
One expert in particular is high on Willis, and that would be former NFL quarterback Chris Simms. Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, Simms made his position on Willis extremely clear.
“No I think Malik Willis is a superstar,” Simms said. “I would think he is like the crowning gem of guys that are going to be out there as far as free agents you can get. No compensation, trading, anything like that.”
Chris Simms on Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis Ahead of Free Agency
GettyGREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 27: Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
“If I were [Pittsburgh], I’d be looking at that. You’re exactly right,” Simms continued. “I mean, Malik Willis has proven — I mean, he has special talent. He has a special arm, he’s got special mobility, he knows how to run the offense and do all of that. So yeah, he’s a great story here.”
“And again, another story of like, we looked at the draft, and I was a Malik Willis fan coming out. And it was like, ‘Oh, Kenny Pickett is good in the pocket and good in the meeting room.’ And I’m so sick of that damn discussion all the time with some of these quarterbacks. And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, how did that meeting room and in the pocket go for you, Pittsburgh? And Philadelphia, and the Raiders?’ How about the guy who has a ton of talent and can make game-changing plays and just needs a little polish, needs to be coached a little? And that’s where the league misses out on guys like that.”
In 11 games over two seasons with the Packers, Willis threw for 972 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions, completing 78.7 percent of his passes and adding 161 rushing yards and another three scores.
Chris Simms on if Malik Willis is Better than Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love
“It’s closer than I ever though it would be,” Simms said on if he like Willis more than Packers starting QB Jordan Love. “I’m really a Jordan Love fan, I mean, again, I’m the guy who was like, ‘I think Jordan Love is gonna be better than Tua [Tagovailoa]‘ when he was coming out in the draft. So I’m with that. But Malik Willis — I’m not going to say he’s better than Jordan Love right now. I will say that I think he shows more potential to be a greater player than Jordan Love. That’s what I would say right now. But I gotta see a little bit more before I say he’s better than Jordan Love.”
“That helps too,” Simms said with a chuckle. “But he won’t be $40 million cheaper after this offseason, that I think will change.”
Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He’s written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his final 2025 Big Board was included in Arif Hasan’s media consensus board for Wide Left. More about Ethan Woodie
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