Even though Malik Willis did not have a long-term future with the Tennessee Titans, general manager Ran Carthon wanted to do right by the 25-year-old. Earlier this week, the Titans traded the third-year quarterback to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
It was always more than just receiving compensation in return for Willis, who was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. Draft pick or not, Carthon wanted to ensure that the Liberty product would keep his NFL career going.
The Packers released quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt as part of Tuesday's cutdown deadline, making Willis the primary backup to Jordan Love going into the regular-season opener, which is precisely what Carthon envisioned.
"Malik earned the opportunity to have a chance to be the backup, whether it was here or someone else," Carthon said via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. "He fought his ass of while he was here, and he's done everything we've asked him to do. … When Green Bay called, and we knew that Malik had the opportunity to be the backup, which we feel he deserved, it was about doing right by Malik and giving him that opportunity."
Willis' tenure in Nashville may very well have been over the moment the Titans signed Mason Rudolph in free agency. The 29-year-old has the track record and experience as a backup in the National Football League. Should anything happen to Will Levis during the season, Tennessee should feel comfortable with Rudolph taking over in the interim.
The Titans were never going to get there with Willis, despite the measurable steps he took in his development as a quarterback throughout offseason workouts and training camp.
The College Park, Georgia, native saw action in all three of Tennessee's preseason schedule, completing 74.1 percent (20-of-27) of his passes. Willis notably guided the Titans to a game-winning touchdown drive in the team's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints.
That effort was certainly enough to attract the attention of potential suitors in a trade, who otherwise may have taken a chance on him as a waiver claim or free-agent signing.
Still, Carthon's decision ultimately came down to putting Willis in the best position for success, even if it meant playing for another team.
Willis will make his return to Nissan Stadium in Week 3 when the Titans host the Packers.
