GLENDALE – When NFL analyst Tony Pauline reported that people around the league believe Malik Willis could land with the Arizona Cardinals as they prepare to move on from Kyler Murray, it was a signal of a new era that is coming to the desert.
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Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis (2) against the sCardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Malik Willis, who has been backing up Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers, has shown flashes, particularly in Weeks 16 and 17 against the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens. In 2025, Willis threw for 422 yards, three touchdowns with zero interceptions, and finished with a 93.2 passer rating. It was a small sample size, but growth isn’t measured only in volume. It’s measured in iq and decisions, and Willis looked decisive.
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis (2) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What would Malik Willis on the Cardinals look like?
Strategically, this would be a financial and philosophical reset. Murray’s contract complicates any exit, likely forcing Arizona to eat significant dead money or find a trade partner. But a younger, cheaper Willis allows the Cardinals to redirect resources, specifically to an offensive line that never fully stabilized during Murray’s tenure. Protect the quarterback, define the run game, and simplify reads. That’s how you build sustainability. Yet this is where new head coach Mike LaFleur factors in. A fresh system with a new dynamic dual-threat quarterback equals alignment.
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay quarterback Willis (2) against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Emotionally, it’s harder. Murray represents hope drafted first overall. Moving on admits that something didn’t fully click with coaching, development, and structure. Fans feel that tension. Willis isn’t a proven savior, although he’s a strategic bet. If Arizona commits to investment inside the trenches and schematic clarity, it would be more of a recalibration over a rebuild. Sometimes, that’s exactly what a franchise needs.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
