According to GM Ran Carthon, Malik Willis found himself in a paradoxical situation with the Tennessee Titans—he wasn’t quite good enough to remain on their 2024 roster, yet he was too talented to simply be let go. On Monday, the Titans traded Willis, their third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round pick, marking the end of his time in Nashville. Despite a strong preseason performance, Willis lost the competition for the Titans’ backup quarterback role to veteran Mason Rudolph, who outperformed him during the offseason.
“Malik earned the right to compete for the backup spot, whether it was here or elsewhere,” Carthon told reporters on Wednesday. “He worked incredibly hard and made noticeable improvements, thanks in part to our coaching staff and Bo Hardegree. But ultimately, Mason had a stronger offseason and preseason, which led to our decision.”
Willis now joins the Packers’ active roster, where he is one of just two quarterbacks, positioning him as the backup to starter Jordan Love, similar to Rudolph’s role with the Titans behind Will Levis.
Titans coach Brian Callahan had deliberated throughout training camp on whether to carry two or three quarterbacks on the active roster. Now that they’ve decided to go with two, Callahan mentioned that they’re not in a hurry to add a third quarterback, although they have specific qualities in mind for a potential practice squad addition.
“In an ideal situation, we’d find a young player in his first or second year to develop,” Callahan said. “But we’re not going to rush into signing just anyone. We’ll be looking for the best quarterback available.”
Willis leaves the Titans with a record of 1-2 as a starter, no touchdown passes, three interceptions, and one rushing touchdown in 11 appearances. His final act as a Titan was throwing a game-winning touchdown pass that capped an undefeated preseason.
“When Green Bay reached out, we knew Malik had the chance to be a backup, which we believed he deserved. It wasn’t just about the compensation; it was about giving Malik the opportunity he earned,” Carthon said.
