The Green Bay Packers are changing course for a backup quarterback behind Jordan Love. After uninspiring years for sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt, the Packers made a trade Monday — agreeing to send a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis, a 2022 third-round pick. The news was reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Packers could still keep Clifford or Pratt, either as a short-term option while Willis gains momentum or — especially in Pratt’s case — as another developmental option at the league’s most essential position.
The trade gave the Packers a talented quarterback, but did it solve their problem?
Here are some pros and cons of the Packers trading Willis:
Advantages
— Willis is a energetic athlete with a gigantic arm, which gives him infrequent tools at quarterback. Obviously, he needs more development. But from a talent standpoint, the Packers have improved significantly. Willis has above-average athletic ability as a runner and a gigantic arm — two attributes Clifford and Pratt largely lack. In his pre-draft report, Lance Zierlein from NFL.com said Willis has “elite attacking talent and a right hand that can shoot a rocket.”
— The Packers couldn’t sit around and wait for Clifford or Pratt to figure this out on the fly. This is a proactive move to fix a glaring hole on their contender roster ahead of the 2024 season.
— If he can take over the offense, Willis could be a great fit in Matt LaFleur’s run-based, vertical passing attack. With Love under contract long-term, the Packers have time to develop Willis in the system.
— Willis had a forceful preseason in 2024, completing 20-of-27 passes and rushing for 101 yards. He had several gigantic plays (2-of-2 on passes of 20 or more yards) and had four runs of 10 or more yards. Are the lights starting to come on?
— Given his athleticism and strength as a runner, Willis gives the Packers a whole up-to-date energetic at quarterback. noted by Andy HermanWith Green Bay set to face Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson early in the regular season, Willis’ skillset will prove useful in immediate preparation on the practice field.
— If Willis proves to be the right answer for Love, it’s demanding to argue with the price tag. We’re talking about a likely tardy seventh-round pick.
Defects
— Willis played in just 11 regular-season games and threw just 65 passes, so his experience is restricted. He’s not the veteran quarterback many had pegged as the Packers’ favorite behind Love.
— Have the Packers found a quarterback who can come in and win a game or two if Love gets hurt? Willis, even in his third year, is more of a “developmental” fit.
— In his restricted regular-season experience, Willis has completed 53.0 percent of his passes, averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, and thrown zero touchdowns and three interceptions. While he flashed a knack for breaking up tackles as a runner (eight forced fumbles in 32 attempts), he has also fumbled the ball four times.
— Willis failed to beat out Mason Rudolph for the starting spot at Tennessee.
— He’ll start fresh in a up-to-date offense in Green Bay. Is there anything that stunts a quarterback’s development more than constantly changing offenses? Willis has to master all the little things at his position to get better, but now he has to learn a up-to-date offense and up-to-date fundamentals in the offense. Patience is required.
— Packers are trading away a seventh-round pick. It’s not a huge price, but consider that the team already used a fifth-round pick in 2023 on Clifford and a seventh-round pick this year on Pratt. And don’t forget… Brian Gutekunst has been doing pretty well with seventh-round picks lately.
— The Packers traded for a player who will likely be released. That’s sometimes the price of doing business when you want a player but are afraid of losing him to waivers.
