Although Malik Willis didn’t have a long-term future with the Tennessee Titans, common supervisor Ran Carthon needed to do proper by the 25-year-old. Earlier this week, the Titans traded the third-year quarterback to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in alternate for a 2025 seventh-round decide.
It was at all times extra than simply receiving compensation in return for Willis, who was drafted within the third spherical of the 2022 NFL draft. Draft decide or not, Carthon needed to make sure that the Liberty product would preserve his NFL profession going.
The Packers launched quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt as a part of Tuesday’s cutdown deadline, making Willis the first backup to Jordan Love going into the regular-season opener, which is exactly what Carthon envisioned.
“Malik earned the chance to have an opportunity to be the backup, whether or not it was right here or another person,” Carthon stated by way of Jim Wyatt of Titans On-line. “He fought his ass of whereas he was right here, and he is performed every little thing we have requested him to do. … When Inexperienced Bay referred to as, and we knew that Malik had the chance to be the backup, which we really feel he deserved, it was about doing proper by Malik and giving him that chance.”
Willis’ tenure in Nashville could very effectively have been over the second the Titans signed Mason Rudolph in free company. The 29-year-old has the monitor document and expertise as a backup within the Nationwide Soccer League. Ought to something occur to Will Levis through the season, Tennessee ought to really feel comfy with Rudolph taking on within the interim.
The Titans have been by no means going to get there with Willis, regardless of the measurable steps he took in his growth as a quarterback all through offseason exercises and coaching camp.
The School Park, Georgia, native noticed motion in all three of Tennessee’s preseason schedule, finishing 74.1 % (20-of-27) of his passes. Willis notably guided the Titans to a game-winning landing drive within the workforce’s preseason finale in opposition to the New Orleans Saints.
That effort was actually sufficient to draw the eye of potential suitors in a commerce, who in any other case could have taken an opportunity on him as a waiver declare or free-agent signing.
Nonetheless, Carthon’s resolution finally got here right down to placing Willis in the perfect place for fulfillment, even when it meant taking part in for an additional workforce.
Willis will make his return to Nissan Stadium in Week three when the Titans host the Packers.
