Feb. 24, 2026, 6:53 p.m. MT
The Arizona Cardinals are open to a lot of options at quarterback in 2026. However, one name keeps coming up — Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis. Willis has been the backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers for the last two seasons and has had good success in limited starting opportunities.
He is also going to be a free agent next month, and the Cardinals are consistently mentioned as a team who will pursue him.
At the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, general manager Monti Ossenfort was asked about Willis. Ossenfort didn’t want give too much away, not wanting “to get into evaluations of certain players.”
He did have good things to say about Willis, though.
“Malik did a great job when he went in there for Green Bay this year,” he said. “I was with Malik for a short time there in Tennessee, had a great college career coming out. So he’s one of the quarterbacks who’s available. We’ll evaluate all our options, whether it’s free agency, the draft, with that position, with every position. And we’ll be prepared to do what’s best for the team.”
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
Ossenfort was in the front office when Willis was drafted by the Titans. Willis spent the last two season scoached by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, the older brother of new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur. Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was part of the Green Bay coaching staff last year.
So there are reasons why many speculate that the Cardinals wil be interested.
But the Cardinals also must figure out what they are going to do with Kyler Murray and perhaps Jacoby Brissett.
Free agency begins with the legal communication period on March 9, with March 11 marking the beginning of the new league year.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.