Game 16: Ravens @ Packers - Saturday, Dec. 27th @ 7:00 PM

[JosephC]

Justin Fields got a 2 year, 40 million dollar deal.  He crapped out with the Bears, but then went to Pittsburgh and had a 4-2 record as a starter and a QB rating of 93.3.  Despite his first round pedigree, his extensive starting experience, and a decent showing in his last year before the contract...he could still only get 2 years, 40 million dollars.

I would think that would be the upside for Willis.  Someone could take him on as a short-term bandage and give him that type of deal.  But I still think the vast majority of the league sees him as a backup, and he will probably get a backup type deal, which still could be pretty considerable (maybe 1 year for 8.5 million, or two years for 15 million?).  Unfortunately, anyway you look at it, it will be enough to price him out of Green Bay.

[adambr2]

2 minutes ago, JosephC said:

Justin Fields got a 2 year, 40 million dollar deal.  He crapped out with the Bears, but then went to Pittsburgh and had a 4-2 record as a starter and a QB rating of 93.3.  Despite his first round pedigree, his extensive starting experience, and a decent showing in his last year before the contract...he could still only get 2 years, 40 million dollars.

I would think that would be the upside for Willis.  Someone could take him on as a short-term bandage and give him that type of deal.  But I still think the vast majority of the league sees him as a backup, and he will probably get a backup type deal, which still could be pretty considerable (maybe 1 year for 8.5 million, or two years for 15 million?).  Unfortunately, anyway you look at it, it will be enough to price him out of Green Bay.

2 years and $15M is the going rate these days for a high end backup QB. If that’s his going rate then we should absolutely be the ones paying it.

[OldHeidelberg]

42 minutes ago, JosephC said:

Justin Fields got a 2 year, 40 million dollar deal.  He crapped out with the Bears, but then went to Pittsburgh and had a 4-2 record as a starter and a QB rating of 93.3.  Despite his first round pedigree, his extensive starting experience, and a decent showing in his last year before the contract...he could still only get 2 years, 40 million dollars.

I would think that would be the upside for Willis.  Someone could take him on as a short-term bandage and give him that type of deal.  But I still think the vast majority of the league sees him as a backup, and he will probably get a backup type deal, which still could be pretty considerable (maybe 1 year for 8.5 million, or two years for 15 million?).  Unfortunately, anyway you look at it, it will be enough to price him out of Green Bay.

It is tough to predict since he is entering FA without ever having been a regular starter. But part of that is being behind a franchise QB in GB the last 2 seasons, I would be pretty surprised if there are not at least 2-3 teams who would want to bring him in to at least compete for the starting position. It wasn't much of a gamble for the Jets to take a flyer on Fields at 2/40 and they still have him around to compete with a potential high pick in 26. Maybe you are right and Saturday night didn't move the needle that much. That he is a high end backup is the narrative pushed by Silverstein and JS recently. But to my amateur eyes he looks like he has a pretty similar skillset to Caleb Williams. Whether or not he can stay on the field with his style of play would be the big question mark for me about Maiik's future as a starter.  

[homer]

1 hour ago, OldHeidelberg said:

It is tough to predict since he is entering FA without ever having been a regular starter. But part of that is being behind a franchise QB in GB the last 2 seasons, I would be pretty surprised if there are not at least 2-3 teams who would want to bring him in to at least compete for the starting position. It wasn't much of a gamble for the Jets to take a flyer on Fields at 2/40 and they still have him around to compete with a potential high pick in 26. Maybe you are right and Saturday night didn't move the needle that much. That he is a high end backup is the narrative pushed by Silverstein and JS recently. But to my amateur eyes he looks like he has a pretty similar skillset to Caleb Williams. Whether or not he can stay on the field with his style of play would be the big question mark for me about Maiik's future as a starter.  

My guess is he gets a one year "prove it" deal like Daniel Jones got from the Colts. I think Miami makes a ton of sense.

[Jopal78]

On 12/28/2025 at 1:26 PM, Fear The Chorizo said:

Health / availability is the lone thing keeping Watson from easily being a top flight receiver in the NFL based on his wr development finally catching up with his physical gifts.  That said, he will never realize and be recognized for that potential if he cant stay on the field for a full season.

 

This Packer offense has a knack for never giving a wideout the volume of targets to put up the numbers that guys like Chase or JSN will post, too (lone exception bekng Rodgers/Adams' connection when the rest of the options weren't getting open).  That doesnt mean every team in the NFL wouldn't want Watson as a starting WR for 2026 with the contract # he'll have.

He’s a straight line speed guy/deep threat. Maybe he’s the best in the league when healthy, but he’s not a complete receiver.
 

When it’s third down, when does Watson catch it over the middle for the first down? His career high for receptions in a game is 7, that was way back in 2023. Over the  last 2 years it’s been 5.

[OldHeidelberg]

42 minutes ago, homer said:

My guess is he gets a one year "prove it" deal like Daniel Jones got from the Colts. I think Miami makes a ton of sense.

If some teams do view him as a starter I think he gets 2 years so if he does prove it they are not looking at a big multiyear deal right away, Colts were already talking about extending Jones before he got hurt, they may have dodged a bullet. Jones and Darnold were at different points of their career than Willis is when they got 1 year deals. 

 

   

[GAME05]

Forgot to watch the game on Saturday because it was Saturday. Having to keep account of what day they play feels like a chore. It's sad we're already in offseason mode.

You're probably right about Willis being a backup yet. If teams thought he were more, he'd probably have been traded last offseason. And a one-year deal makes a lot of sense for him. Land at the best offense he can get and maybe he gets middling-starter money the following year.

If the Packers cut Gary it seems they've got no real replacement. Wouldn't it end up being a decision to cut Gary and try to re-sign Enegbare, or just keep Gary for another year? And in that case wouldn't it be way cheaper to just keep Gary? I don't get the impression they're eager to give LVN a lot of snaps. 

Maybe a little out of the box but would McKinney be a trade candidate in the offseason? His replacement is already here. Maybe a good way to shore up CB or OL? But would teams really have an interest in giving up much for a safety?

[CheezWizHed]

As others have said, I think Willis gets a shorter deal to be a starter - either to de-risk starting a rookie or for a team that is left out of the top rookie QBs.  I think he ends up peaking as a great backup QB, but I don't doubt someone will give him a chance. 

32 minutes ago, GAME05 said:

Maybe a little out of the box but would McKinney be a trade candidate in the offseason? His replacement is already here. Maybe a good way to shore up CB or OL? But would teams really have an interest in giving up much for a safety?

It does seem like Williams and Bullard are outplaying him this year.  He hasn't been bad, but hardly game-changing either. 

34 minutes ago, GAME05 said:

If the Packers cut Gary it seems they've got no real replacement. Wouldn't it end up being a decision to cut Gary and try to re-sign Enegbare, or just keep Gary for another year? And in that case wouldn't it be way cheaper to just keep Gary? I don't get the impression they're eager to give LVN a lot of snaps. 

LVN has outplayed Gary nearly every game since he returned.  Gary turned into a pumpkin without Parsons. Not sure I really want Enagbare back either; certainly not at starter money.