The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need a quarterback; there is no question about that. Rumors are that Aaron Rodgers could return, but after having just over 3,300 yards in his age 42 season, it may be better to try another option. The argument against that is the fact that free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft are barren in terms of top talent at the passer position. Malik Willis, a four-year backup, is perceived to be the best option available. He could be a good starter, but it's a major risk to pay him big money.
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Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis (2) during a regular season matchup between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants.
The supposed price tag that Willis would carry makes him an even bigger risk to hedge the future on. While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Steve Palazzolo revealed the price for the 2022 third-round pick, and it could easily make the Steelers back off.
"I think [Malik Willis]'ll be making $40 million per year this offseason," Palazzolo said. "Seriously, he played so well -- it was night and day. He couldn't complete a pass in Tennessee and looks unbelievable with the Packers. He's the only real free agent of that group... he's the only free agent with some level of future and upside, and because there's scarcity in the draft."
There are so many layers to this and if Willis deserves to get that much money in free agency -- whether it's with the Steelers or someone else. For starters, he has only had significant playing time in five games over the previous two years. None of those games were particularly impressive, but they were solid and safe for the most part. He has shown he can hold his own in a pinch, but he has not had the chance to prove he can be a long-term guy.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis throws a pass during Packers game.
However, Willis has shown the ability to learn and grow. His stint with the Tennessee Titans was so bad that they debated about moving him to wide receiver. However, he got traded to a more forward-thinking coaching staff in the Green Bay Packers, who almost immediately turned his career around and at least made him a serviceable stopgap option. The question now is if he can grow beyond that.
The most important part is basic supply and demand. Demand for a quarterback is high, and the supply is concerningly low. Who would be a better option at this point? Would you rather another veteran bridge guy in Kirk Cousins, or Daniel Jones off of a major surgery that could cost him a large chunk of the season? Or a young Willis that might be able to achieve another level?
On top of all that, the quarterback market is pure insanity. This is a timeline where Dak Prescott is making $60 million per year while a potential GOAT in Patrick Mahomes is making $15 million per year less than Prescott. Teams have been throwing all kinds of money at any quarterback who has a sliver of a chance of producing, and that is expected to be the case once again in this situation.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stands on the podium after his team won the Super Bowl.
Everyone just watched how Sam Darnold went from total bust to Super Bowl champion for the Seattle Seahawks. His story proves that you can rehabilitate a supposed "bad" quarterback with proper coaching and a proper structure around him. Every passer-needy team will be dying to get Willis and prove once again that all these young guys just need the right system to truly get the most out of them.
Steelers Can Make This Deal Work With Willis
The Steelers don't like giving out guaranteed money past the first year, and that would likely be the case here with Willis. On top of that, they can backload the contract, so they won't have to deal with an insane cap hit if it doesn't work. If it does work, they can just give him an extension to relieve some of those cap concerns to the very long future.
What do you think about Willis' price tag? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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