The Green Bay Packers did not win yesterday’s contest against the Baltimore Ravens, but that won’t prevent quarterback-needy teams from looking at impending free agent Malik Willis. Starting in place of the injured Jordan Love, the former third-round pick made the most of his opportunity by completing 18 of his 21 attempts for 288 yards and a touchdown while adding 60 yards and two additional scores on the ground.
5 Teams That Could Sign Malik Willis In 2026
This isn’t the first time Willis has played well in relief of Love. The quarterback appeared in seven games last year (two starts), going 2-0 while completing 74.1% of his passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while adding 138 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Now set to reach the open market in his age-27 season, several organizations should be willing to give him the opportunity to prove himself as a potential franchise quarterback.
Main Photo: Dan Powers – Imagn Images
5. Los Angeles Rams
Let’s start with a disclaimer: this one only makes sense if Matthew Stafford retires. The former first-overall pick and one-time Super Bowl champion is still at the top of his game and is the MVP frontunner with two weeks left to play. He’s still an elite quarterback by every possible metric, and the Rams will roll with him for as long as they can.
However, with that caveat out of the way, Stafford hinted at retirement in the offseason and could call it a career if the Rams go on a deep playoff run. If that happens, Los Angeles will need to find a new quarterback. Head coach Sean McVay runs a similar offense to Matt LaFleur, and Malik Willis could find similar success with a great head coach in this team’s offense.
4. Minnesota Vikings
To say J.J. McCarthy has not lived up to expectations would be an understatement. While the quarterback played well in his two most recent starts, he suffered another injury and forced the team to turn to undrafted free agent Max Brosmer. McCarthy can’t stay on the field, his overall body of work leaves a lot to be desired, and nobody would blame the Vikings for adding some offseason competition to this quarterback room.
Malik Willis could do well in this offense, but the Vikings will probably add a more proven veteran like Marcus Mariota. Ultimately, Minnesota wants McCarthy to become a franchise quarterback, and Willis would be an odd choice for a competitive backup. If the Vikings sign Willis, it’s probably because they do not believe in McCarthy’s future.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix tore his ACL and could miss the start of the 2026 season, but even if he’s healthy, he hasn’t done enough to establish himself as the future of this organization. Much like McCarthy, the Washington product has an extensive injury history and hasn’t done much to impress when on the field. However, unlike McCarthy, the coaching staff that drafted him probably won’t be running the show in 2026.
Raheem Morris is a dead man walking, and the Falcons will almost certainly have a new head coach in 2026. This coach will want to rebuild the team in his image, and that could mean installing a new quarterback in Malik Willis. Seeing as the team has no first-round pick, signing Willis could be the only way to add meaningful upside to the quarterback room.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins benched Tua Tagovailoa, which means someone else will be under center in 2026. Head coach Mike McDaniel will presumably return for another season, but he’ll need to prove that he can win games with a different quarterback. If he can’t, then he’s probably out of a job. Malik Willis likely proved he’s the top free agent quarterback, and the Dolphins are one of the most desperate teams for the position.
The biggest obstacle standing in the way is the money. Parting ways with Tagovailoa won’t be cheap, and a bidding war could erupt for Malik Willis. If this happens, it’s hard to imagine Miami being the highest bidder.
1. New York Jets
This just feels inevitable, doesn’t it? The New York Jets need a quarterback, and they might not be able to select one early in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 3-12, the Jets would have the fourth-overall pick if the season ended today. Seeing as it’s supposed to be a weak quarterback class, this might not be enough to get a franchise passer.
If the team isn’t in a position to draft a potential savior, they might settle for Malik Willis. The jury is still out on what Willis can do over a full 17-game season, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance in Green Bay. If nothing else, he already looks like a more developed passer than Justin Fields.
