The Packers’ Trade For Malik Willis Remains The NFL’s Best Of 2024

Davante Adams to the New York Jets.

Amari Cooper to Buffalo.

DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City.

The NFL has been buzzing over these trades the past two weeks.

Through the first half of the season, though, the most important trade of this NFL season occurred on Aug. 26 when the Green Bay Packers sent a seventh round draft pick to Tennessee for quarterback Malik Willis.

Willis, a third-year player who had done little as a Titan, has been a godsend for Green Bay since his arrival.

Willis and the Packers went 2-0 when franchise quarterback Jordan Love missed Weeks 2-3 with a knee injury. Willis then relieved an injured Love Sunday and rallied the Packers to a 30-27 win over Jacksonville.

Green Bay improved to 6-2 and has the NFC’s second-best record. If Willis wasn’t around, there’s no telling where these Packers would be.

“You can’t say enough great things about Malik Willis, the job that he’s able to do to go in there,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “The moment’s never too big for him and he made a lot of big time plays in this game.”

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The biggest came in the final 2 minutes after Jacksonville rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie the game, 27-27.

Willis, who entered early in the third quarter after Love exited with a groin injury, had thrown just four passes at that point. Most expected Green Bay would be playing for overtime.

Instead, LaFleur and the Packers had enough faith in Willis to try winning the game.

On a second-and-6 from the 34, Willis faked a handoff and rolled right. Wideout Jayden Reed was lined up in the right slot, blocked down, then crossed the field and headed up the left sideline.

The offensive line did yeoman’s work and Willis hit Reed in stride at the Jacksonville 40. Reed rumbled all the way to the Jaguars’ 15-yard line for a 51-yard gain.

Four plays later, kicker Brandon McManus drilled a 24-yard, game-winning field goal. It marked the second straight week the newly acquired McManus had a walk off field goal.

“It doesn't have nothing to do with me,” an extremely modest Willis said afterwards. “I'm just grateful for the opportunity given to me by God. Jesus did way more than I do, so I just lean on that thought.

“This is a game at the end of the day, and I just lean on that fact, and it helps me to get through and not really stress over it. Yes, it's definitely important, it's a high stress job, but at the same time, the lord blessed me with this ability, and I just got to utilize it and have fun with it.”

Making the pass to Reed even more impressive is it came on a “can” play — which means the quarterback checks out of the initial play and audibles to something else.

The fact Willis was able to do this — despite all of his practice reps coming with the scout team — was remarkably impressive.

“Not only was it a “can” play, but it was a play that we didn’t have up in the game plan,” LaFleur said. “We talked about it on Tuesday. We thought that there might be something there, decided against it, and then we ran the keeper earlier in the gamer and (wide receivers coach Jason) Vrable suggested it.

“He’s like, ‘Hey, it looks like the play is there.’ And so we put it in on the sideline. So, no reps in practice. I think that’s a big-time credit to our guys, to be able to go out there and execute it … and then ultimately Malik making the throw. So, that was a pretty cool one. Probably one I’ll never forget.”

What Willis has done in a reserve role has already been unforgettable.

Willis completed 12-of-14 passes for 122 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks, in a 16-10 win over Indianapolis in Week 2. Willis also had six carries for 41 yards and didn't throw an interception that day.

Then in a 30-14 rout of Tennessee in Week 3, Willis completed 13-of-19 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown pass and no interceptions. Willis also ran for a team-high 73 yards and a TD and finished with a passer rating of 120.9.

In those two games, Willis was a combined 25-of-33 for 324 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 126.3 passer rating. And amazingly, Willis led Green Bay to a pair of wins when it was a significant underdog in both contests.

“He always prepares himself through the week,” Reed said. “He’s been here long enough. He’s definitely way more confident than when he first got here. Great job by Malik coming in and just being ready for his number to be called and making big plays.”

It’s unclear if Love will be ready for Green Bay’s Week 9 showdown against NFC leading Detroit (6-1) on Nov. 3. Two months ago, that would have led to panic in the NFL’s smallest city after the Packers spent a training camp watching their backup quarterbacks struggle.

Now, having Willis means anything is possible thanks to the trade that keeps on giving.

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that we’re going to go out here with Malik and execute,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “Everyone just had to do their job one play at a time. We’ve got to reset our emotions. We’ve got to lock back in. Seeing your quarterback go down like that, you feel like some tear, but we’ve got a great quarterback room here in Green Bay.”