The Green Bay Packers have become victims of their own success. Matt LaFleur has had to rely on backup quarterback Malik Willis several times over the past two seasons. Willis stepped up impressively, leading the Packers’ offense to nine touchdowns with only one turnover in 11 games.
Willis clearly benefited from working with LaFleur and the Packers’ offense following his unceremonious exit from the Tennessee Titans. Green Bay gave Willis the chance to revive his declining career.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst foreshadowed Willis’ departure with the message.
“I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to play more than he would here, so we’ll see where that goes”.
Gutekunst can’t take too long to congratulate Willis, however, as he now needs to focus on finding the next understudy for Jordan Love. Before long, Willis had agreed to a three-year $67 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.
The Next Project
Green Bay needs to secure an insurance policy for their franchise quarterback. Reclaiming a highly regarded prospect who has underperformed has yielded great results with Willis. Several options offer comparable potential this offseason.
Justin Fields: The former Bear, Steeler, and Jet is known for his athleticism and has shown flashes of strong play. The Jets’ offseason moves suggest that Fields could become a cap casualty sooner rather than later. LaFleur and the Packers would be the best fit for Fields’ early career. This pairing would give the Packers a high-upside backup and offer Fields hope for a career revival.
Desmond Ridder: Similar to Willis, Ridder was an exceptionally talented third-round draft pick who faded after a short stint as a starter. Green Bay had an early start with Ridder, who ended the 2025 season on the Packers’ roster. The question is whether LaFleur and the Packers saw enough to keep the Ridder experiment going.
Will Levis: Maybe the Packers strike gold by picking up Titans cast-offs twice in a row. The Titans have filled their QB room, leaving no space for the 2023 second-round pick, Will Levis. Levis might see Green Bay as a low-pressure chance to develop after watching Willis succeed. If Green Bay can get him at a good price, they should take that opportunity.
Brian Gutekunst has several options to replace Willis. Coach LaFleur has proven to be highly skilled at developing raw yet talented quarterbacks. Possibly, we will see his next major project as a prominent free agent signing in 2027, just like Willis was the year before.
Leave a comment