Boy, was I wrong about Malik Willis.
After he kept the Packers’ season afloat last season by going 2-0 against Indianapolis and Tennessee and closing the game out against Jacksonville by going 2-for-2 in the fourth quarter to seal the win, I thought it would’ve been in the team’s best interest to trade him.
Now that Jordan Love has a ligament issue in his left thumb, all eyes are suddenly on Willis. When the Packers sent Tennessee a seventh rounder on Aug. 27, 2024, I wasn’t sure what to think. Obviously the Packers weren’t impressed with the plodding Sean Clifford, but before he got to Green Bay, he only made three pro starts.
He has largely been an unknown commodity — which is surprising for a quarterback that was drafted in the third round.
“Somebody’s always going to think you’re trash,” said Willis during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. “Everybody’s going to have an opinion of you, so if you focus so hard on whatever everybody’s opinion is of you, you’re never going to be happy. I want to be happy, I’m not going to be think about it. You can say what you want to. I’m going to let the opinion of people I trust and can respect affect me.”
Willis, 26, could once again be the Band-Aid for the leaky dam just like he was last year when Love was injured in the season opener on a subpar playing surface in Brazil. And the nice thing is, Packers coach Matt LaFleur knows that he doesn’t have to water down the offense. Willis proved last year that he can make off-platform throws, he isn’t afraid to tuck and run and most importantly, he can lead a huddle.
Looking back, that seventh round pick the Packers gave up was an absolute steal. In today’s NFL, teams need quality backups. The schedule is 17 games long and some of the games are on short rest with Thursday games and international games.
Willis is the perfect fit because he can do so many things. If he raises eyebrows again, he’s going to want to fight for a starting job somewhere. He has gotten so much better by being in Green Bay and just understanding the nuances of being a passer and leading the offense.
If he’s willing to stay for one more year in a backup role, the Packers should take him up on it in a heartbeat. It’s a quick drop off to Clifford, who doesn’t have a shot of starting in the NFL.
Willis at least has the look of a starter, but was a little green and lacked the necessary confidence to do it consistently. After going 40-for-54 with 550 passing yards and three touchdowns and no picks last year, all those doubts should be erased.
“The moment is never too big for him,” said LaFleur after last year’s come-from-behind win over Jacksonville. “He made a lot of big-time plays in this game — not only with his arm, but with his ability to have a big pick up with his legs.”
I have my doubts that Love will be 100 percent by Week 1. And if he isn’t fully ready, they shouldn’t rush him back because Willis has proven that he can do the job.