Malik Willis New Packers Backup QB

[Bretsky]

I think they traded a "conditional" 7th round pick. He might actually have to be on the roster at a certain point or it could go to zero

[MadtownPacker]

Might be some Taysom Hill kinda plays soon.

[Joemailman]

I think they traded a "conditional" 7th round pick. He might actually have to be on the roster at a certain point or it could go to zero

Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein

By the way, the compensation the #Packers paid the #Titans for Malik Willis was a straight seventh in 2025. It was not conditional.

[texaspackerbacker]

For a conditional 7th rounder, this sounds reasonable. If you consider his good work this preseason rather than his bad regular season work in the past, he's probably good to have. Also I like the idea of that wildcat/Taysom Hill stuff.

[NewsBruin]

For a conditional 7th rounder, this sounds reasonable. If you consider his good work this preseason rather than his bad regular season work in the past, he's probably good to have. Also I like the idea of that wildcat/Taysom Hill stuff.

Taysom has positional skill and toughness going for him. When he goes out on the field, he can line up as a receiver, line blocker, or back, so the Saints can bring the starting/backup QB off and back on without telegraphing what Taysom will be doing. I listen to a lot of Saints radio broadcasts, and even after Sean Payton left, their OC stayed on and used a lot of QB Power plays for blocking overmatching. When Taysom's had to be a starter, his mid-to-deep throws have a lot of air underneath them and are very defensible. But if you need to work a defense over and collect 2-5 yards to convert a first down, what they do works.

I think Malik, if he's still twitchy-fast, would be a good pair with Josh Jacobs' power and 11 or 12 personnel, but exploiting mismatches, rather than sustained grinding. I'm surprised he's about the same billed height (one inch shorter) and weight (one pound lighter) as Taysom.

[smuggler]

I realize there might be friction with him not being the starter in Tennessee, and Vrable is gone now, but I feel like the price was definitely right. Wonder if the Titans could've gotten more for him...

[run pMc]

Weird fit for GB offense as it is. He's shorter and more of a running QB.
Has a rocket arm and high-end athleticism.

His pocket presence and poise worries me.

If nothing else, he gives them someone good to practice against on scout teams when they face mobile QBs like Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, etc.

Tom Clements might be able to get something out of this guy, but he's like a Justin Fields/Deshone Kizer type to me. I don't get it, but whatever. Clifford, Pratt, or Willis - Any QB they roll out if Love gets hurt is unlikely to keep the team afloat for long.

Giving up a R7 isn't the worst thing. They've had big drafts lately such that they don't really have a lot of roster spots. If you traded Clifford and a R7 for Willis would you feel different? I'm not sure I would. I think it's worth a shot, but they are playing the long game with his development.

[Patler]

per JSO, he was a high school teammate of Xavier McKinney, but stayed in college two years longer than X.

I don't remember this, but JSO has a video clip of him at the scouting combine that went viral. After talking to Nike and getting a bunch of free clothes, coming out of the combine he stopped, opened his bag and gave some of the clothes to a homeless lady with a son. Apparently, he had seen her on the way in and specifically got clothes to give to her because he said he didn't have any money to give to her. Seems like a guy with a good heart.

[MadtownPacker]

Damn Patler, that’s some good stuff. Enough for me to say let’s see what he has to offer.

[MadtownPacker]

Weird fit for GB offense as it is. He's shorter and more of a running QB.
Has a rocket arm and high-end athleticism.

His pocket presence and poise worries me.

If nothing else, he gives them someone good to practice against on scout teams when they face mobile QBs like Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, etc.

Tom Clements might be able to get something out of this guy, but he's like a Justin Fields/Deshone Kizer type to me. I don't get it, but whatever. Clifford, Pratt, or Willis - Any QB they roll out if Love gets hurt is unlikely to keep the team afloat for long.

Giving up a R7 isn't the worst thing. They've had big drafts lately such that they don't really have a lot of roster spots. If you traded Clifford and a R7 for Willis would you feel different? I'm not sure I would. I think it's worth a shot, but they are playing the long game with his development.

A play where D thinks he is running and he chucks it deep to Watson? Way different than Clifford and that’s a good thing. No way they got this guy just so he can sit and develop.

[run pMc]

A play where D thinks he is running and he chucks it deep to Watson? Way different than Clifford and that’s a good thing. No way they got this guy just so he can sit and develop.

He'll need some development, he was about as raw as you can be coming out of college. If he takes to Clements' coaching he could do it. They probably figure he's no worse than Clifford in the pocket, and has far far better mobility and athleticism.
There's more upside with Willis than Clifford. I think there's some upside with Pratt, I'll be a little surprised if they don't bring him back on the PS.

I don't think any of the backup QBs were going to help the team a lot (this season) if Love gets hurt.
Gute, better make sure that OL keeps Love healthy.

[Joemailman]

Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood

Brian Gutekunst says he has no doubt Malik Willis can learn #Packers offense quick enough to be their QB2 in Brazil next week. Working with Brian Callahan, who comes from same tree as Matt LaFleur, helps.

[Fritz]

Yeah, as long as QB#2 doesn't have to actually play.

I gotta think they'll call up Clifford for the first couple of games.

[CaptainKickass]

I'm gonna trust the QB Whisperer, Tom Clements on this one. If everyone in the office agrees the man has a large talent upgrade as compared to The Big Red Dog Clifford and Michael Pratt - then I feel I should believe them and trust in their development program. The following quote doesn't include Matt Flynn or Jordan Love:

It’s easy to know two of them when you look at his time with the Packers. Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers of course. But after those two Legends, there’s Elvis Grbac with the Chiefs, Tommy Maddox and Kordell Stewart with the Steelers, and Kyler Murray with the Cardinals. I bet you didn’t know about at least those first three. But that’s been the impact of Tom Clements.

Reference" https://packerstalk.com/2023/08/04/t...ack-whisperer/


Additionally, the "pump fake" has almost disappeared from Green Bay since Favre. Favre used it very frequently with his infamous shoulder check movement accompanied by his ability to move the safeties with his eyes. The frequency of the pump fake appeared to go away with Aaron Rodgers though. Whenever Rodgers used the pump fake, on it's infrequent occasion, it was absolutely spectacular. But infrequent it certainly was.

My lone criticism of Rodgers was this infrequent use of the pump fake.

That said, Tom Clements has had far too much QB coaching success with guys who have a talented arm for me to be against this acquisition. Perhaps a nice medium balance of pump fake moves can be achieved during the development process.

[bobblehead]

thats gotta suck for clifford and pratt

they were so shitty that they were replaced by a complete unknown

how was he a third round pick when he had such shitty college number (except for the huge rushing numbers)

He was a pretty solid prospect. Jalen Hurts was a 3rd round pick I think. Mocks had him going late 1st due to his incredible athleticism. I don't know what to think of this. I want a heady gamer as my backup. A game manager. This guy is the exact opposite.