Malik Willis in 2026?

This is what so many don't understand. Quarterbacks come out of college at different levels of development. Much of that is dependent on the system they played in, the coaching they received, and what was asked of them within that particular situation.

Willis was a project when he came out. He is physically gifted, but couldn't read defenses and literally had to learn how to play the position at the NFL level. When he came into the league he was lost. When a quarterback is not handed the starting QB position, teams don't build an entire offensive system around them. They struggle mightily to learn how to play in a system they never played in before, using a completely new language, and some of these guys never called a play in a huddle in their entire lives. They are set up for failure.

The Malik Willis I saw play in Green Bay doesn't resemble the player I saw earlier in his career. Sometimes it takes players a long time to figure it all out and to play in a system that fits them perfectly to get the most out of them. The system quarterbacks play in, and coaching is a huge factor in player development.

That doesn't mean that Willis is going to be a star. The sample size is still very small, but if he can be signed for a reasonable number he could be worth a long look.