Gridiron Shake-Up: Tennessee Tosses Rookie Signal-Caller to Green Bay

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The Green Bay Packers have acquired quarterback Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans, according to multiple reports.

In exchange, the Packers will send a seventh-round pick to Tennessee, as reported by ESPN and NFL Network. Willis is expected to compete for a backup role behind starter Jordan Love, alongside second-year pro Sean Clifford.

The team’s depth chart is yet to be determined, and it remains unclear which backup quarterbacks will make the 53-man roster for the regular season. Seventh-round rookie Michael Pratt (Tulane) is also on the preseason roster.

Malik Willis projects to compete for a backup role behind Jordan Love in Green Bay. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

The Titans drafted Willis in the third round of the 2022 draft as a backup to Ryan Tannehill and a potential quarterback of the future. He appeared in eight games as a rookie, including three starts while Tannehill was injured.

The Titans then drafted Will Levis in 2023 and installed him as their starter midseason in favor of an injured Tannehill. The Titans didn’t re-sign Tannehill at the conclusion of his contract, and he remains a free agent with the regular season approaching. Levis is now the starter in Tennessee, and the Titans signed Mason Rudolph in the offseason, making Willis expendable.

An athletic quarterback with the potential to make game-breaking plays with his legs, Willis didn’t consistently display a complete quarterback arsenal in his limited opportunities with the Titans. In 11 appearances, including three starts, he completed 53% of his passes for 5.3 yards per attempt with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He tallied 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4.5 yards per carry.

He’ll now have a second chance to earn a backup role behind one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks in Love.

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