When Malik Willis joined the Green Bay Packers a few years ago, his career wasn’t in a great place.
The naturally gifted QB had struggled mightily with the Tennessee Titans, and he was in need of a fresh start.
But in two seasons with the Packers, Willis developed in a great way. Mostly as the backup, but occasionally filling in for starter Jordan Love, Willis proved he’s accurate, intelligent and well versed in his offense, in addition to the strong arm and impressive legs everyone knew about already.
That has created an irony: The Packers helped turn Willis into a potential star, and they’ll get none of that payoff.
Willis is a free agent now, likely to get starting QB money from somewhere, a price the Packers can’t pay just to keep him as a backup.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen is the latest analyst to think that Willis will wind up with the Miami Dolphins, who have brought over multiple new leaders from Green Bay.
“Willis’ development in Green Bay creates upside for the Dolphins,” Bowen writes.
That’s right, upside for the new team, not something the Packers get to enjoy.
Of course, Green Bay isn’t mad that it has Love at QB. It’s just the reality of the position. Only one gets the opportunity.
Miami might be the opportunity for Willis. Tua Tagovailoa has mostly worn out his welcome with the Dolphins.
“With new leadership in Miami, the club could move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa,” Bowen writes. “New coach Jeff Hafley and new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan know Willis well from their shared time in Green Bay, and Willis could slot in as the new starter under coordinator Bobby Slowik. Let’s envision a scheme built around motion/movement, with play-action elements woven in; that would set up Willis well as a thrower, and the QB run game would generate conflict for opposing defenses.”
If Willis thrives, it’ll feel kind of like a victory for the Packers, but only kind of, because he’ll be in a totally different uniform showing what he grew into in Green Bay.
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