Whenever a quarterback plays well in limited action, the default reaction is skepticism. NFL history is filled with backups who flashed for a few games before crashing back to earth once defenses had more film. That’s why many people are hesitant to buy into Malik Willis after his impressive stretch with Green Bay.
The skepticism is understandable. The numbers came in a small sample. But sometimes a small sample still tells you something meaningful, especially when nearly every efficiency metric points in the same direction.
Willis wasn’t just “good enough.” He was legitimately one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks whenever he stepped on the field.
Willis completed 74.1% of his passes, averaged an outstanding 10.2 yards per attempt, threw three touchdowns without an interception, and finished with a 124.8 passer rating. He also added value as a runner, giving Green Bay another dimension offensively whenever he replaced Jordan Love.
Those aren’t empty numbers padded by checkdowns.
Averaging over 10 yards every time you throw the football is elite territory. Maintaining a touchdown rate above five percent while avoiding interceptions is even rarer. Quarterbacks can get lucky over a game or two, but sustaining efficiency across multiple appearances usually requires consistently making good decisions.
The biggest criticism is that Matt LaFleur protected him with a simplified offense. That’s true, to a degree.
Green Bay didn’t ask Willis to throw 45 passes a game or carry the offense. But that’s exactly what smart coaching looks like. Rather than forcing him into uncomfortable situations, LaFleur built an offense around Willis’ strengths: play-action, movement throws, deep shots off run looks, and designed quarterback runs.
The important part is that Willis executed the offense almost flawlessly.
Too often, people dismiss quarterback production because of coaching, but coaching only creates opportunities. The quarterback still has to make the correct read, deliver accurate throws, avoid negative plays, and capitalize when explosive opportunities present themselves.
Willis consistently did all four.
His ball security may have been the most encouraging development. Coming out of Liberty, his biggest concerns were processing speed and turnover-worthy decisions. During his time with Tennessee, those concerns only grew stronger as he struggled to read defenses and often held the ball too long.
That version of Malik Willis barely resembles the one Green Bay put on the field.
His mechanics looked calmer. His eyes stayed downfield. He trusted what he saw instead of hesitating. The game appeared to slow down considerably.
Even advanced efficiency metrics loved what Willis accomplished. Despite his limited workload, he finished near the top of the league in several efficiency-based measures, including EPA-based production and passer efficiency, while producing explosive plays without the turnovers that typically accompany aggressive downfield passing.
Critics will argue that defenses didn’t have enough tape on him.
That’s fair.
But defenses also had plenty of opportunities to stop what Green Bay was doing during the games themselves. Willis appeared in multiple contests, opponents adjusted throughout those games, and he continued making efficient decisions while protecting the football.
That’s harder to fake than people think.
The athletic traits have never been in question. Willis has always possessed one of the strongest arms in football along with legitimate running ability. The question was whether he could become a polished quarterback instead of simply an outstanding athlete.
Last season suggested that answer may finally be yes.
It’s also worth remembering how quarterbacks develop.
Many of today’s successful NFL starters looked overwhelmed early in their careers before landing in better coaching situations. Quarterback development isn’t always linear, especially for players who entered the league as raw prospects.
Green Bay has developed quarterbacks as well as any organization in football over the past three decades. Willis arrived with obvious physical talent but needed refinement, and that’s exactly what the Packers appeared to provide.
Does that guarantee he’ll become a franchise quarterback?
Of course not.
The sample is still small enough that caution is reasonable.
But dismissing everything because it came in limited playing time ignores just how dominant the efficiency actually was.
When a quarterback completes nearly three-fourths of his passes, averages over 10 yards per attempt, avoids interceptions entirely, creates explosive plays with both his arm and legs, and consistently grades among the league’s most efficient passers, those performances deserve more than a shrug.
The sample may be small.
The indicators are not.
If Willis gets the opportunity to start over a full season, don’t be surprised if last year’s numbers turn out to be the beginning of his breakout rather than an unsustainable hot streak.
Leave a Reply