Malik Willis, currently the backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and an impending free agent, is expected to secure a contract worth upwards of $30 million per year during the upcoming offseason, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on the NFL Daily podcast. Willis’s contract prediction is stirring conversations about his potential market value in comparison to recent deals handed to similar quarterbacks.
Comparisons to Recent Quarterback Contracts Reveal Potential Deal Range
During the podcast, Ian Rapoport speculated on Willis’s contract value by drawing parallels to other high-profile quarterback deals, asking,
“If [New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields] gets [$20 million] a year, what does Malik Willis get? [$30 million]? [$35 million]? That’s my guess as to what it is,”
indicating expectations that Willis’s earnings could surpass those of several contemporaries. Fellow analyst Gregg Rosenthal suggested Willis might land a deal akin to Daniel Jones’s 2023 contract with the New York Giants or Geno Smith’s 2025 agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders. Rosenthal noted a potential salary range, stating,
“Anywhere between [$35 million] and [$42 million] or something,”
which Rapoport agreed was likely.
Salary Benchmarks Reflect Willis’s Projected Earnings Level
The anticipated $30 million per year figure aligns closely with recent quarterback contracts such as Baker Mayfield’s 2024 deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sam Darnold’s 2025 contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract, while Darnold secured a similar three-year pact worth $100.5 million, setting a precedent for Willis’s potential earnings as a free agent.
Willis’s Career Progression and Performance Metrics
Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Malik Willis’s rookie season was challenging, as he started three games and completed only 31 of 61 passes without any touchdowns, throwing three interceptions and accumulating 276 passing yards. However, he added 123 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Willis’s 2023 season was limited to just five passes before the Titans traded him to the Packers for a seventh-round pick.
In Green Bay, Willis showcased his abilities when filling in for the injured starting quarterback Jordan Love. Early in the 2024 season, Willis completed 25 of 33 passes for two touchdowns and 324 yards over two games, alongside 114 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. In the final 2024 regular-season game against the Chicago Bears, he threw 10 of 13 for 136 yards while backing up Love as the Packers rested key players ahead of the playoffs.
Willis’s performance continued to improve during the 2025 season stretch. After Love suffered a concussion late in the season, Willis completed 9 of 11 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 44 yards against Chicago. He then delivered a standout game against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 60 yards with two rushing touchdowns.
Potential Team Destinations and Contract Risks
Although Willis has demonstrated promise, his experience remains limited, making the potential contract a significant gamble for interested teams. Rapoport has mentioned the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals as possible landing spots, but noted concerns about financial constraints due to existing commitments to Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray. These cap considerations could hinder their ability to offer competitive contracts to Willis.
Implications of Willis’s Contract on NFL Quarterback Market
Malik Willis’s prospective contract signals a willingness by NFL teams to invest heavily in young quarterbacks capable of dynamic playmaking, even with limited proven starting experience. Should Willis validate his potential over a longer period, he may emerge as a major asset similar to Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, whose contracts have paid dividends for their teams. The size and terms of Willis’s deal will likely influence how future signal-callers’ contracts are structured, especially for quarterbacks transitioning from backup roles to starters.
