Titans make the most of Malik Willis development with trade to Packers

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans have traded third-year quarterback Malik Willis to the Green Bay Packers. According to Adam Schefter, Tennessee is getting a 2025 seventh-round pick back in the deal.

Willis, 25, made significant improvements to his game over the offseason and was working well under Tennessee's new coaching staff. The former Liberty Flames QB threw for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during the preseason.

It's a much needed fresh start for Willis. For the Titans, it's an opportunity to cash in on Willis' development and the positive strides he has made over the last year.

Before training camp started, it seemed highly unlikely that the Titans would get something in return for Willis.

Tennessee all but declared their intentions to move on from the former third-round pick when they signed Mason Rudolph to backup Will Levis in free agency. Given how little Willis has proven at the NFL level, he seemed more likely to be a cut candidate and practice squad member in 2024 than an NFL backup...But that changed over the course of the last six weeks.

Willis played his best football with the Titans this summer. Sunday's preseason finale - where Willis led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to win the game - was a perfect example of that. He has earned himself the right to be on a 53-man roster.

This is a win-win deal. Willis gets a new environment and his shot on a 53 for Green Bay where he will sit behind Jordan Love. Meanwhile, Tennessee shows exactly why development and coaching matters.

Good organizations find talent. Great organizations develop that talent and find a way to extract maximum value from those players. The Titans turned Malik Willis into a future draft asset...and that's an unequivocal win.

Related: Titans Roster Cuts Tracker 2024: Keeping tabs on how Tennessee gets to 53