Insider Fires off Warning to Jets About Packers QB Malik Willis

The New York Jets are expected to be one of many suitors for Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis in free agency.

NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY provided the Jets with a stern warning before free agency gets underway about Willis.

“I keep saying this, though, if [Jeff] Hafley doesn’t take Malik Willis with him, the Jets should just avoid him. Like, just don’t go anywhere near him. I’ll tell you it reminds me back of Matt Flynn,” Hughes explained on “Jets Final Drive.”

Hughes was referencing the new power couple with the Green Bay Dolphins, otherwise known as the Miami Packers. This offseason, Miami hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as the general manager and Jeff Hafley as the head coach. Both of whom came from Green Bay. Willis has spent the last two seasons in Green Bay crossing over with both individuals.

If the Dolphins, who have a clear need at QB, aren’t interested in Willis, that should be a major red flag. The new leadership team with the Dolphins should know more about Willis than anyone, in theory.

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Willis Jets Hype Is Picking up Steam

Two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and longtime analyst Phil Simms explained why he would love to see Willis with the Jets.

“We saw these last two years, when he gets into the game, how good he is. Now, if the Jets go out and get Malik Willis, I would say that’s a home run,” Simms said on “Bart and Carlin” on ESPN New York.

“Maybe the biggest thing is his arm. You know I studied him in college, and his arm is much better in the pro game than I ever thought it would be. I would say go after Malik Willis,” Simms added.

Willis, 26, will turn 27 before the start of the 2026 season.

The first two years of his NFL career were spent with the Tennessee Titans. During that period, Willis completed 53% of his passes, threw for 350 passing yards, had zero passing touchdowns to three interceptions.

He has spent the last two seasons with the Packers. With those opportunities, he has completed 78.7% of his passes, has thrown for 972 passing yards, and has a six touchdown to zero interception ratio.

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What Should Concern Jets Fans

The biggest red flag is the limited sample size.

Through the first four seasons of Willis’ career, he has six starts. That’s it.

ESPN released a top-50 free agent big board ahead of the new league year. Only two quarterbacks are included on the list. One is Daniel Jones, who is coming off a torn Achilles. The expectation is that he will return to the Indianapolis Colts. The other is Willis.

The demand for quarterbacks is high every offseason. However, the supply is always low, and that’s especially true this year.

So what do you get when you have high demand and a low supply? You get a massive overpay as everyone scrambles to get the one option in free agency.

Signing Willis is a big risk. He looked terrible in Tennessee, and he looked really good in Green Bay. When he inevitably goes to a new team this offseason, play-caller extraordinaire Matt LaFleur isn’t coming with him.

The Jets would be better served finding a safer option that provides a better floor in 2026.

Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.