Green Bay Packers, Malik Willis
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Green Bay Packers backup QB Malik Willis.
The Green Bay Packers have a lengthy list of players preparing to hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 11.
Ten of those players will become unrestricted free agents. Two of them, in particular, are expected to command sizable contracts on the open market — which is part of the reason Green Bay appears comfortable letting them walk.
Those two are backup quarterback Malik Willis and left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Out of 150 available players, Willis ranks No. 6 on The Athletic’s free-agent rankings, while Walker checks in at No. 12.
Both players are expected to receive strong interest across the league. However, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes both could ultimately end up being “busts waiting to happen” for their next teams.
Why Malik Willis Could Be a Bust
Starting with Willis, Davenport pointed to the quarterback’s limited experience and uneven track record before arriving in Green Bay.
“Yes, Willis shined in three spot starts for the Packers, but his three starts in Tennessee were a different story. It’s just a small sample size, though, and the best we saw from him came with one of the league’s more stable franchises,” Davenport wrote.
Willis has made just six starts in his NFL career and holds a 3–3 record. Two of those victories came with Green Bay during the 2024 season.
Davenport also raised concerns about what Willis’ next situation might look like.
“The odds are good that the Liberty product’s next team won’t be as stable. The offensive line won’t be as good, and neither will the scheme,” Davenport continued.
“And if Willis regresses to the player we saw struggle in Nashville, this could be the biggest boondoggle of free agency in 2026.”
Despite the uncertainty, the quarterback market this offseason is expected to be thin. Because of that, Willis is projected to command roughly $35.5 million annually on his next deal.
That’s a significant price tag for a quarterback who still has relatively little starting experience.
Why Rasheed Walker Could Be a Bust
Walker, meanwhile, could be this year’s example of a team overpaying for offensive line help.
Davenport pointed to last offseason when the Tennessee Titans handed former Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr. a deal worth more than $20 million per year.
“At 26, Walker is entering the prime of his career. And by most estimations, he is a better pass-protector than Moore,” Davenport wrote. “But Walker has been a liability as a run-blocker to this point in his career, and the reality is that while he may be a good tackle, he isn’t a great one.”
“That won’t stop some NFL team from handing him a top-of-the-market deal—and then wondering two years from now why they ever did it.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Walker posted a 64.6 overall grade in 2025, ranking 52nd among 89 qualifying offensive tackles.
His pass-blocking grade of 70.0 ranked 41st, while his run-blocking grade of 55.4 ranked 71st.
Walker also allowed five sacks during the season and was penalized nine times.
Still, demand for offensive tackles across the league remains extremely high.
That’s why Walker’s projected market value currently sits around $20.3 million annually, with a potential four-year deal worth roughly $81.1 million.
Whether a team is willing to make that type of investment remains to be seen.