The Tennessee Titans are trading quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round selection. The news was broken on social media by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. General manager Ran Carthon did well to receive draft-pick compensation in exchange for Willis, who presumably was going to be released prior to Tuesday's roster-trimming deadline.
Source: The #Packers are trading for Malik Willis. A fresh start. pic.twitter.com/qZak9Wfi4z
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 26, 2024
Former Titans GM Jon Robinson swapped third-round picks with the Las Vegas Raiders, and included a fifth-round choice to move up to draft Willis with the 86th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson was fired months later and replaced by Carthon, who drafted Will Levis with a second-round pick in the following draft.
Willis entered last season as the backup quarterback, but was swiftly replaced by Levis, who took over for Ryan Tannehill as the starter. The Titans fired Mike Vrabel at the conclusion of the season and replaced him with Brian Callahan. Together, Callahan and Carthon had a different vision for the backup QB, prompting them to sign Mason Rudolph in free agency.
Rudolph has consistently outperformed Willis throughout training camp and the preseason. Publicly, the Titans claimed they were holding an open competition behind Levis between Rudolph and Willis. Nobody really bought that, and this trade essentially confirms the initial 53-man roster was going to feature just two quarterbacks had a trade partner not been found.
Willis did display flashes of improvement and personal growth throughout the offseason in Callahan's offense. In three preseason appearances, the former Liberty standout completed 20-of-27 passing attempts for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Willis put forth his best performance in Sunday's exhibition finale versus the New Orleans Saints, throwing two late touchdowns, including a game-winner. The dual-threat scrambler also added 101 rushing yards to his offensive totals.
Willis appeared to be an improved passer and decision maker. Those traits weren't present throughout his first two seasons in Nashville. He enters his third professional season in 2024 with a 53% completion percentage, zero career touchdown passes, and three interceptions.
The Packers found themselves in the market for a backup quarterback because they have no viable option behind starter Jordan Love. Both Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt struggled mightily for the Packers in three preseason showings. Willis will be coached by Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, who runs a similar offense to the Todd Downing one Willis learned in Tennessee as a rookie.
Willis never showed true starting QB potential in Tennessee. The Titans will move forward with Levis and Rudolph as their quarterbacks. Carthon shrewdly got draft-pick compensation back for a player he almost immediately replaced when he took the job.