Everything is setting up perfectly for Malik Willis.
The Green Bay Packers' talented backup quarterback is set to be a free agent when the season ends. And in each cameo he has gotten to make in place of Jordan Love, Willis has performed admirably.
Now, everyone is wondering what kind of deal Willis might get.
Will someone make him a starter? Will anyone pay him like a starter? What's a deal look like for a guy with this resume?
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ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL QB himself, sees a big payday coming, writing this on X:
Malik Willis is gonna get 40-50 million this off season
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 6, 2026
Orlovsky doesn't say it, but that has to mean in total value.
It'd likely max out at something like two years for $40 million total, or maybe three years for $16.7 million each year.
Whatever it works out to be, Willis is looking at a special opportunity.
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He didn't pan out immediately in the NFL with the Titans, and the Packers got him in a trade for just a seventh-round pick.
But under head coach Matt LaFleur, Willis has grown. His running has remained dangerous, but he's also improved his accuracy and game processing in such a way that makes him an all-around threat.
Given that it's not often that new, exciting QBs spring out of nowhere, Willis will be tempting for a lot of teams to try. It feels like he's got untapped upside.
And with QB-needy teams around the league, someone is going to pay Willis. At this point, it's not even a matter of how much, because a payday is coming. We'll just wait to see from whom.
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