Just a few years ago, it looked like Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis was going to fail in the NFL.
A third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Willis showed zero signs of being an adequate quarterback in the NFL over his two seasons and 11 games.
It is fair to point out, however, that Willis didn't have much of an opportunity to show his stuff, as he only made three starts.
Tennessee also decided to draft quarterback Will Levis in 2023, which effectively ended Willis' chances of being the long-term solution in Nashville.
The Titans ultimately traded Willis to the Packers in 2024 for a measly seventh-round pick and that trade has paid huge dividends for Green Bay.
After arriving in Green Bay, Willis has developed into a solid backup quarterback and looks like a completely different player than he was in Tennessee.
It isn't clear if we can blame the Titans for just doing a terrible job with Willis, or if the credit goes to the Packers for developing him. It might be a combination of both.
However, the Titans do have a history of completely failing young quarterbacks, so it wouldn't be surprising if they did the same with Willis.
Tennessee failed to develop Levis, also, and he has already been replaced by Cam Ward, who was the Titans' No. 1 overall pick earlier this year.
Ward's career is off to a rough start, so he might be the next failed quarterback in Tennessee.
Regardless, it's very clear the Packers have themselves a solid backup signal-caller who is capable of keeping Green Bay afloat when starting quarterback Jordan Love gets injured.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of market Willis will have in 2026, when he's slated to be a free agent. Green Bay will certainly be interested in keeping him around, but he will leave if offered a starting job elsewhere.
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