ESPN's mock Malik Willis negotiations end with Packers QB going to rival Vikings
· Yahoo Sports
Where will Green Bay Packers backup quarterback and soon-to-be free agent Malik Willis end up in 2026? ESPN set out to find a potential answer before the start of free agency, using a group of reporters to stage a mock negotiation between teams (represented by ESPN's team reporters) and Willis (represented by ESPN's national reporter Dan Graziano).
The end result? Willis got three competing offers, and he ended up signing with...the Minnesota Vikings.
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Teams can start "legally" negotiating with Willis on Monday. ESPN used a set of six interested teams, which actually mirrored the six teams we projected as the top landing spots for Willis last month.
The Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers did not make offers. All three reporters noted salary cap concerns and the potential of Willis commanding a big deal for stepping away. The Dolphins have been a logical landing spot for Willis since the start, but the team is in a cap bind and may not want to spend big on a quarterback this offseason. We'll see.
That left three teams with offers: the Arizona Cardinals, Vikings and New York Jets.
None of the three offers came close to the $25-30 million window some are expecting for Willis. The Cardinals offered a two-year, $33 million deal. The Jets offered two years, $40 million -- the Justin Fields deal 2.0. The Vikings offered one-year, $20 million -- fully guaranteed.
The decision...
From Graziano: "Willis goes to Minnesota here. Sure, there are higher offers and more guarantees with the Cardinals and Jets, but I don't really like the idea of a two-year deal. Worst case, Willis gets hurt or plays poorly, leading Arizona or New York to cut him. Best case, he is great … and then underpaid in 2027. But playing for O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, as well as throwing to Jefferson, would give Willis the best chance to have a huge year and really cash in next offseason."
I like the thought of his mock negotiation, and using plugged-in reporters to offer deals and a national reporter to pick the best one is a nice way to simulate what could happen. But I still tend to think Willis is going to coveted next week, especially considering how many teams have legitimate question marks at quarterback entering free agency, and there are several solid fits that could drive his price above $20 million.
In ESPN's mock scenario, it would be hard to fault Willis for going to Minnesota on a one-year, guaranteed deal. He'd be landing in a solid offensive structure with playmakers at receiver and a veteran playcaller, and the one-year deal would both provide a big upfront payday and a chance to prove he's a starter worth paying handsomely next offseason.
The Packers, on the other hand, would probably love for Willis to land in Miami with Jeff Hafley or Arizona with Mike LaFleur. The possibility of facing Willis twice in 2026 -- especially if he can provide a spark in Minnesota after what the Vikings went through at quarterback in 2025 -- would be especially troublesome.
No team wants to lose an ascending young quarterback. The Packers are resigned to the fact, given how well Willis has played as a backup over the last two seasons, but seeing him land in Minnesota and become an above average starting quarterback for a rival in the division would be something close to a worst-case scenario. The Packers did the hard work developing Willis' talent. In this scenario, the Vikings receive the fruits of Green Bay's labor on a low-risk, potentially high-reward deal.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: ESPN's simulation for Malik Willis sends Packers QB to rival Vikings