The conference championship games are this upcoming weekend and we still don’t know who the Cleveland Browns next head coach will be. With second interviews going forward, six teams still do not have their top guy in place, but at least we have an idea of the Browns interview schedule.
Three of the other five teams that still need coaches will face Cleveland next year. For the Browns, very little else is known about next season. The team has some high draft picks and can create a lot of salary cap space. That is about all we know for sure.
Despite so much still unknown around Cleveland and the league, ESPN has put out some “bold predictions” after talking to executives around the NFL. That includes the possibility of Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis signing with the Miami Dolphins or Browns:
Willis made some coin with his performance in relief of Jordan Love in Green Bay, showing dual-threat ability that a new offensive mind could mold.
“I just don’t think [the Browns] go into the season with Shedeur [Sanders] as their top option,” an NFC personnel man said. “And getting the right quarterback in the draft isn’t a guarantee based on where they pick.”
Willis was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans but struggled in three starts as a rookie and was dealt to the Packers just before the start of the 2024 season. The Titans received just a seventh-round pick in the deal.
Since then, Willis has played in 11 games, including three starts, in Green Bay. The former Auburn and Liberty star completed 79% of his passes for 972 yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions in those games. He also added 261 yards and three scores rushing during his time with the Packers.
CBS Sports has Willis ranked as the 21st-best free agent this offseason, while The Ringer has him 25th. While quarterback contracts are hard to project, especially with a number of teams needing them, Spotrac projects his value to be over $10 million, while ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky believes the total deal will be much higher:
It is likely that Orlovsky used QB Justin Field’s two-year, $40 million contract from last offseason as a reference point.
How would you feel about Malik Willis being added to the Browns this offseason and what contract amount would you be comfortable with?
Share your Willis related thoughts in the comment section below
