A new potential quarterback option has emerged for the New York Jets.
NFL Insider Matt Lombardo joined me on “Boy Green Daily” and explained why the Jets should sign Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis in free agency in 2026.
“Malik Willis is everything they thought Justin Fields was going to be. He has the mobility, the escapability, [and] a plus arm. Some of those tight window throws [against the Baltimore Ravens], he looked like an everyday starting quarterback, not a backup coming into the game,” Lombardo told me. “When you think about the Jets cap situation, they can blow the [Las Vegas] Raiders or the [Indianapolis] Colts out of the water in terms of what they can offer.”
“You could go down two paths. Malik Willis can be the guy who starts next year, and you can kick the can down the road to 2027 and figure out the position then while keeping the additional draft picks. Or you draft a quarterback early, and you play Malik Willis until your rookie quarterback is ready, and you might even win some games along the way … I think there is nothing but upside to bringing Malik Willis in here for the Jets,” Lombardo explained to me.
Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer also called the Jets a potential fit for Willis in free agency.
Looking at the Entry Point for Willis
Willis, 26, entered the league as the No. 86 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
He spent his first two years with the Tennessee Titans and was then traded to the Packers during the 2024 offseason.
The former Liberty product has appeared in 22 games and has made six starts. With those opportunities, Willis has completed 67.7% of his passes, has thrown for 1,322 passing yards, and has a six touchdown to three interception ratio.
On the ground, Willis has toted the rock 74 times for 405 rushing yards. He has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns.
Willis Had His Matt Flynn Moment in the Sun
In Week 17, Willis started in place of Jordan Love for the Packers against the Baltimore Ravens. He displayed flashes of brilliance.
Willis went 18-of-21 for 288 passing yards with one passing touchdown and no interceptions. He also had nine carries for 60 rushing yards with two touchdowns on the ground. That caught the attention of teams across the league.
“All in all, though, Willis played like he was one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league. He’s been decent in spot duty for the Packers before, and against the Ravens was undoubtedly his best performance to date,” Derrik Klassen wrote for The Athletic. “In a league desperate for functional, talented quarterbacks and utterly lacking in other veteran options this offseason, it’s easy to see a world in which some team tries to extrapolate enough from Willis’ handful of quality performances to give him a shot.”
In the 2011 regular season finale, veteran backup Matt Flynn started in place of Aaron Rodgers. He had the game of his life. Flynn completed 70.5% of his passes, threw for 480 passing yards, and had a six touchdown to one interception ratio.
That brief glimpse he was able to parlay into a three-year $26 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency that offseason. Perhaps Willis can do his own version of that in 2026 as a free agent.
