The Green Bay Packers have some tough decisions to make this offseason. While they will have more salary cap space than they have in a while, they will most likely release some players to make place for free agents, their own players, and their 2025 NFL Draft class.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander appears to be an obvious cut candidate, having missed the most of three of the previous four seasons due to injury. The two-time Pro Bowler has even stated that he is unsure whether he would return next year.
As is the case every offseason, NFL fans and analysts try to guess which players will be cut by each team. One analyst made a perplexing suggestion for Green Bay.
An NFL analyst predicts that the Green Bay Packers will cut quarterback Malik Willis.
According to Sterling Bennett of Heavy, one name fans should keep an eye on as players are removed to free up salary cap space is quarterback Malik Willis.
“Quarterback Malik Willis is another guy whose deal the Green Bay Packers may consider. Although Willis performed brilliantly when called upon during the 2024 season, his long-term status in the team remains questionable. With no clear route to becoming a full-time starter, Willis’ $1.4 million cap cost sticks out as one of the few contracts that the Packers could complete without incurring dead money.”
This, however, does not make much sense in Green Bay. Willis was traded from the Tennessee Titans after training camp last year, and he started two games while Jordan Love was out with a sprained MCL, winning both.
Willis finished the season completing 74.1% of his passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 124.8 passer rating.
The Green Bay Packers need a reliable backup quarterback. Behind Jordan Love
As Bennett points out above, removing Willis would only save the Packers $1.4 million. This is because 2025 will be the final year of his rookie deal. In other words, they do not pay him well (by league standards) to begin with.
The idea of releasing Willis also misses the fact that Green Bay had to trade for him after Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt struggled in training camp and preseason games. Both were released from the 53-man roster. Clifford was re-signed to the Packers’ practice squad, while Pratt signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If Green Bay decides to part ways with its backup quarterback this offseason, they will need to locate another quality reserve. Last year, they were fortunate to locate Willis while scrambling to complete their lineup. They would probably not be so lucky the second time around.
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