NFL Scout: Malik Willis' Packers Success 'Makes You Wonder Why You Pay a QB $50M'

Malik Willis' ability to lead the Green Bay Packers to two straight wins on a $1.17 million salary has one NFL scout wondering if the quarterback market is due for a reset.

"Makes you wonder why you pay a quarterback $50 million," an anonymous scout for an AFC team told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

The same scout called head coach Matt LaFleur "a god for a quarterback" for his ability to coach the Packers to a 2-1 season-opening record without starter Jordan Love.

Another AFC scout told Demovsky: "To go 2-0 without your quarterback is impressive. It could've been disastrous. This saved them."

The Packers tied an NFL record in July by signing Love to a four-year, $220 million extension, a vote of confidence in the 25-year-old as the replacement for former franchise QB1 Aaron Rodgers.

Love was then injured in the first game of the 2024 season after suffering an MCL sprain in the final seconds of the Packers' season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.

While the Packers have avoided placing Love on injured reserve in the hopes he would return within four weeks, Willis has been called to start in Weeks 2 and 3, making Green Bay's decision to trade a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans to acquire him in August their most consequential of the season so far.

The backup responded to the opportunity by leading the Packers to wins at home against the Indianapolis Colts and on the road against his former team, the Tennessee Titans.

He has completed 73.5 percent of his passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and adding 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground through those two starts.

After struggling through two seasons as a backup for the Titans, Willis' success in the third year of his rookie contract is a central reason the Packers have begun the season with a 2-1 record despite the loss of Love.

It also joins him with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields and Minnesota Vikings signal caller Sam Darnold as signal callers who struggled earlier in their careers before finding success as starters in 2024.

LaFleur told reporters on Thursday that Love's participation against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday will likely be a game-time decision. If he is unable to go, the Packers will hope Willis can continue to find success in a third straight start.