Paul Bretl | 8/26/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — With uncertainty surrounding the backup quarterback role for the Packers, the team made a trade, acquiring Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick, according to Adam Schefter.
Willis was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2022 draft out of Liberty. He has appeared in 11 games in his career, making three starts. During that span of playing time, Willis has completed 53 percent of his 66 pass attempts–61 of which came in 2022–at 4.5 yards per attempt with no touchdowns and three interceptions. In the very small sample size that the 2023 season provided, Willis was 4-for-5 passing for 74 yards.
In his final season at Liberty in 2021, Willis completed 61.4 percent of his throws at an impressive 8.4 yards per attempt with 27 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,220 yards and 13 scores.
Willis is still a developmental player, but will presumably now be the Packers’ backup quarterback for this season. For what it’s worth at this time, in Lance Zierlein’s scouting report of Willis prior to the 2022 draft, he noted his high upside with his “elite rushing talent” and “rocket-launching right arm.” But on the flip side, Zierlein mentioned “mechanical and operational inconsistencies” leading to inaccurate passes. For Zierlein’s full report, click here.
Unlike Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford, Willis put together a strong preseason performance. Over those three games with the Titans, he completed 74.1 percent of his 27 throws at 7.6 yards per attempt with two touchdowns to one interception, along with rush for 101 yards at 9.2 yards per carry.
Prior to this move for the Packers, the backup quarterback battle between Pratt and Clifford was one of the bigger positional competitions to take place in training camp. However, it also underwhelmed with there being little clarity gained over three preseason games and 19 training camp practices about which player should assume that role.
Through three preseason games, Pratt would complete 65.7 percent of his 35 pass attempts for 178 yards (5.08 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. His quarterback rating was 78.4. Clifford, meanwhile, would complete 51.1 percent of his 43 passes for 207 yards (4.81 yards per attempt) with one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was 59.4.
While there were glimpses here and there from each quarterback, inconsistent play and poor decision-making at times were far too prevalent. We often heard Clifford praised for his resiliency and gamer-like play-style, but the moments where those qualities shined through were few and far between. Pratt, meanwhile, like any seventh-round rookie, is navigating a steep learning curve as he transitions to the NFL.
Following the Packers’ preseason finale against the Ravens, with neither Pratt or Clifford unable to still much confidence, LaFleur hinted at the team exploring options outside of the organization.
“We’ll see,” said Matt LaFleur after the third preseason game when asked if the backup quarterback play was good enough. “Certainly, again, I think it’s similar to the kicking competition in terms of there were some really good moments and then there were some things we absolutely have to do better, and then we’ll evaluate everything that’s out there for us.”
Instead of trying to decide between Clifford or Pratt, the Packers will take a swing on being able to unlock the high upside and potential that Willis possesses. Now the next question becomes, will the Packers roster a third quarterback or try to bring back Pratt or Clifford on the practice squad? Odds are, even with the practice squad, there is no longer room on this team for both.
I would guess that Pratt is the favorite of the two to stick around as the younger player who did outperform Clifford in the preseason. But in what capacity—on the 53-man or practice squad—remains to be seen.