The biggest story over the past couple of weeks in the Green Bay Packers quarterback room has concerned the rise of backup, Malik Willis.
Having shone brightly in his one-and-a-half games playing for the team, after Jordan Love was taken out with a concussion, sustained from a late hit by Chicago Bears defensive end, Austin Booker, many believe that the former Tennessee Titan will find a job as a starting quarterback somewhere in the league during this coming free agency period.
There are a number of NFL teams that could stand to look for an upgrade at the position. And with 2026 once again being a draft with only a couple of viable franchise quarterback options, many franchises will want to look to free agency.
Malik Willis Predicted To Get Enormous Pay-Bump
And according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, Willis may not only end up being top of the pecking order for free agent QBs, but will receive an enormous paycheque in the form of his next contract, after his rookie deal expires in March.
“Malik Willis is gonna get 40-50 million this off season”. Orlovsky predicted in a post on X on Tuesday afternoon.
The biggest compliment that can be dolled out to Willis is that the Packers offense did not skip a beat in the transition from Love to him. Indeed, the hype of Willis was so much that head coach, Matt LaFleur, had to explicitly clarify that Love would return as starter upon his return to good health – which should be this weekend – over the former 2022 third round pick.
Over the course of four games this season, the grand majority of snaps were played in weeks 16 and 17, Willis thrown for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns with an unbelievable 85.7 completion percentage and a 145.5 quarterback rating – the highest of any QB this season who has thrown more than one pass.
A further part of Willis’ allure is his dynamic ability to make plays with his feet. On top of his passing numbers, the Liberty alum managed a further 123 yards on the ground, with two more rushing touchdowns.
Will Malik Willis Actually Get $40-50 Million?
When Orlovsky writes $40-50 million, it is presumed that he means per annum. And given the performances he stacked up in December, the number would not be too far fetched.
The problem is the lack of sample size, above all else – and the situations he was placed in. The Bears’ defense was clearly not prepared for a dual-threat QB like Willis when he came in mid-game, and the Baltimore Ravens – whom Willis went off against the following week – have the 30th ranked passing defense (i.e. the third worst) in the NFL.
Sam Darnold, after a mostly-great regular season and and end-of-year collapse, received $33 million/year – with admittedly far more starts under his belt, alongside the pedigree of being a former 2nd overall pick back in 2018.
But Willis has shown he can be a legitimate threat in the league. And whilst $40-50 million per year might be on the more ambitious end, it is not far-fetched to claim that there will be a team willing to give the current Packers QB2 a contract well in excess of the 2 year, $40 million deal given to Justin Fields by the New York Jets last offseason.
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