The Green Bay Packers have received a trade call about the potential availability of backup quarterback Malik Willis heading into the start of Week 3.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cincinnati Bengals have “been calling around to other free-agent quarterbacks” about possibly signing one of them to bolster their roster after they lost Joe Burrow to a toe injury that will sideline him for the next three months.
The Bengals’ search for an additional quarterback has also prompted them to call the Packers about a potential trade for Willis, according to Packer Report’s Easton Butler.
https://x.com/Easton__Butler/status/1967629852049281328
Packers Seem Highly Unlikely to Trade Malik Willis
Butler did not elaborate on the Bengals’ interest in Willis, but it is unlikely the Packers would engage in a serious dialogue about trading their impressive backup signal-caller unless Cincinnati were to make them a hard-to-refuse trade offer.
Willis has earned the confidence of the Packers’ coaching staff in the 13 months since the team acquired him from the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 seventh-round pick. He made two spot starts in place of the injured Jordan Love early last season, completing 75.8% of his passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to two wins.
That’s quality, proven value within Matt LaFleur’s offensive system, which is hard to just throw away after a 2-0 start and with expectations to compete for a Super Bowl.
Even still, the Bengals could talk the Packers into a trade with a strong enough offer.
The Bengals would likely need to offer a Day 2 selection as compensation to even get the Packers to the negotiating table, but the Packers might insist on more, given his value to their team as a trusted safety-net quarterback behind Love.
If the Bengals put up a second-rounder, though, the Packers would have a difficult time saying no — especially after giving up two future first-rounders to land Micah Parsons.
Packers Have Another QB to Promote, If Trade Happens
Right now, there is no indication that the Packers are having any real discussions with the Bengals about a trade involving Willis. After all, a phone call is not a negotiation.
If the Bengals overpay for Willis in a desperate attempt not to squander their 2-0 start, though, the Packers would have another quarterback in position to promote to their active roster as the new No. 2 behind Love: Clayton Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick.
The Packers signed Tune to their practice squad as their de facto No. 3 quarterback after training camp, choosing the former Arizona Cardinals backup over quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Taylor Elgersma — both of whom vied for the role in the preseason.
While he hasn’t spent long with the team, it is possible the Packers could have warmed to the idea of trading away Willis if Tune has wowed them over his first few weeks.
The Packers did change to Willis rather suddenly before the start of the 2024 season. If they trust their evaluations and think they have something in Tune, perhaps they would be willing to do it again and deal off Willis to the Bengals for an over-the-top return.
