The Green Bay Packers have made a surprise trade with the Tennessee Titans to land a new backup quarterback ahead of the 2024 season.
Jordan Love is the well-established starter for the Packers, showing off all of his talent and leadership in his first full season as ‘the guy’ at Lambeau Field, throwing 32 touchdowns, over 4000 yards and nearly leading the team to the NFC Championship.
Behind Love, however, has been far less secure and looked to be quite a concerning situation as pre-season unfolded this summer, with Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt battling it out for the Number Two spot.
Clifford threw for 207 yards on 43 attempts (51.2% completion), one touchdown, and one interception while Pratt threw for 178 yards on 35 attempts (65.7% completion), one touchdown, and one interception as the Packers went 2-1 in pre-season.
The numbers were okay, if not uninspiring for the team’s hierarchy, who have decided that a new direction is needed to ensure greater security behind their high-value franchise player.
Which is why they have made the surprise trade for Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans.
Green Bay Packers Make Surprise QB Trade
What Did the Packers Give Up?
The terms of the trade are quite straightforward. The Titans sent Willis to Green Bay and will receive a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in return.
With Will Levis entrenched as the Titans’ starter, and off-season acquisition Mason Rudolph performing to a good level, it was clear that Willis was the odd man out and Tennessee will be satisfied to get any value for the former Liberty Flame.
It’s a meagre price to pay for a backup quarterback, especially in this era where the league is so pass-heavy. However, the Packers will still have plenty of work to do to get Willis ready to be their second option for the long term.
What Willis Brings to the Team
From a positive standpoint, Willis brings with him potential.
The 25-year-old was once viewed as a potential first-round player ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft but fell to the third round when the Titans grabbed him at 86th overall.
He has a big-time arm and plenty of athleticism, where he can make plays with his feet. He has a lot of still-raw tools that could be developed behind Love.
The great thing about this trade is the fact that the team can work on his development while Love plays. The only concern comes if Love goes down injured and Willis is then expected to carry the load.
He has very little game experience in the NFL, with just three starts, 350 passing yards, and three interceptions to his name. That’s right, Willis has not yet thrown a touchdown since entering the league in 2022.
His inexperience and general lack of production when called upon may be a worry for the Packers, but his raw talent and potential to develop and fit into Matt LaFleur’s offensive scheme already makes him a better option for the team than either Pratt or Clifford.
Willis has room to grow and learn behind one of the youngest, yet strongest, offenses in the NFL and he should have plenty of time to adjust, develop, and evolve in his new role and new environment.
A change of scenery could be good for Willis’ career, and the lack of expectations early on could be a nice change of pace for a player who at one point was tipped to be the long-term replacement for Ryan Tannehill.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
