After months of speculation, the Tennessee Titans traded quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers in advance of Tuesday’s roster deadline. In exchange, the Titans received a 2025 seventh-round pick, so general manager Ran Carthon was able to recoup a draft selection rather than letting Willis walk.
The Liberty product was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft with the hope that he could be the next face of the franchise. However, Willis failed to show the necessary steps toward being the future quarterback. As a rookie, he completed just 50.8 percent of his passes across eight games, including three starts in place of the injured Ryan Tannehill.
The Titans took Will Levis with the No. 33 overall pick the following year, and Willis had just five pass attempts while Tennessee gave the former every opportunity to showcase himself. Combined with Mason Rudolph signing in free agency, who has the experience and the track record as a backup quarterback, the writing was on the wall for Malik Willis.
The 25-year-old will be expected to serve in a backup capacity to Jordan Love.
Here is how Titans Twitter/X reacted to the trade:
The best part of the Malik Willis trade from a #Titans standpoint is that we no longer have to talk about Malik Willis
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) August 26, 2024
Hate to see you go my brother! Packers got a good one man! On the field and off!! @malikwillis https://t.co/uxH6jX7vG4
— Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94) August 26, 2024
To this day I still can’t believe the Titans traded AJ Brown for Malik Willis and Treylon Burks https://t.co/A8V7nSjFGN
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) August 26, 2024
Malik Willis and the Packers face the #Titans @NissanStadium in Wk 3. 👀
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 26, 2024
Think the #Packers are a really nice fit for Malik Willis. A team that has been known for their QB development and obviously see something in those flashes. #Titans get a 7th round pick, something the team likes to use to go out and get players… (I.e. Leroy Watson)
— JT Ruhnke (@jt_ruhnke) August 26, 2024
The trade that landed the #Titans Malik Willis:
April 29, 2022: Traded 2022 3rd round pick (90th overall, Dylan Parham) and 2022 5th round pick (169th overall subsequently traded, Ty Chandler) to Raiders for 2022 3rd round pick (86th overall, Malik Willis)
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 26, 2024
Interesting move for #Packers to pick up a backup QB in Malik Willis. #Titans, who are draft pick poor in 2025, add a late-rounder back. https://t.co/5VOxJPoQDm
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) August 26, 2024
Didn’t think the #Titans were going to be able to sneak him through waivers, but the idea they land a draft pick for Willis is an enormous win for Ran Carthon. https://t.co/Wm4bBue5wQ
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) August 26, 2024
Safe to assume Malik Willis was not going to make the Titans 53-man roster if they traded him for a 7th
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) August 26, 2024
