Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis has put himself in a position to be a starter in the NFL in 2026. A former third round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Willis did not perform well in his two professional seasons. Prior to being traded by the Titans, he appeared in 11 games for them, posting a 53.0% completion percentage, 350 passing yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 49.4 passer rating.
After the Packers deemed Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt as unfit to be the backup quarterback to Jordan Love following training camp in 2024, the Packers sent a seventh round pick to Tennessee for Willis.
It was a move that paid off very quickly.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis ranked the best NFL free agent in 2026
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) runs for a gain against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter during their football game Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
Just a few short weeks after being acquired by the Packers, Willis was forced into starting duty when Love went down with a sprained MCL in Week One of the 2024 season. He led Green Bay to two consecutive victories while Love was out, and continued to play well whenever he got on the field.
In two seasons (11 games) with the Packers, Willis had a 78.7% completion percentage, 972 passing yards, six touchdowns passes, no interceptions, and a 134.6 passer rating.
Now heading into free agency, NFL.com has Willis listed not just as the best quarterback who will hit the market, but the best free agent, period:
“I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur. Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof.”
The key for any team that signs Willis, though, is going to be to incorporate the kind of offensive scheme that made him successful in Green Bay. This will mean allowing him to use his mobility to keep defenses off balance as they have to anticipate that he could take off at any time.
There are a few teams that could show some significant interest in Willis, but they will have to give him the opportunity to start.
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