Malik Willis trade: Titans give up on former 3rd-round NFL Draft pick

Ryan OLeary

•
Malik Willis trade: Titans give up on former 3rd-round NFL Draft pick image

Malik Willis’ run with the Tennessee Titans is over. 

The Titans gave up on the exciting quarterback prospect they selected No. 86 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, sending him to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the news on Monday night:

The former Liberty University star was once viewed as a top prospect in the 2022 draft class, but concerns over his accuracy dropped him into the third round. Willis did little to dispel those concerns over his 11 appearances for Tennessee. Primarily a backup with three career starts, he leaves the Titans with 53 percent completions (35-for-66), zero touchdowns, three interceptions and a 42.8 passer rating.

Given the compensation on the eve of the NFL’s roster cut-down day, Willis was likely to be cut prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EST deadline. Mason Rudolph is set to open the season as the backup to starter Will Levis.

Now, Willis appears to be getting a fresh start as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay.

The Packers have been linked to various quarterbacks in recent weeks amid their search for viable insurance behind Love. With neither Sean Clifford nor Michael Pratt turning in a convincing preseason and training camp to win the QB2 role, the pressure was on Green Bay's general manager Brian Gutekunst to make a move on the free agent market for a serviceable backup.

Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.