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Packers Backup QB Rejects Bengals’ $20 Million Contract, Declares: “I Only Want Green Bay”

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Packers Called About Malik Willis Trade Following Major QB Injury

Green Bay, WI — As the Cincinnati Bengals scramble for a stopgap at quarterback during Joe Burrow’s extended absence, Malik Willis is said to have turned down a $20 million offer to leave the Green Bay Packers. The surprising decision instantly cooled trade chatter and reaffirmed Willis’s preference for stability and his belief in Matt LaFleur’s system.

The Bengals approached with a package worth around $20 million—roughly four times the total value of his current deal in Green Bay—hoping to bring him in as an emergency solution. Willis declined, prioritizing long-term development within the Packers’ system over the numbers.

Malik Willis: “They called me with a twenty-million-dollar offer, nearly four times my current total here in Green Bay. But I said no. I believe in how Coach Matt LaFleur is developing me, I believe in this QB room and the winning culture in Green Bay. I only want the Packers.

From a football standpoint, his choice tracks: in Wisconsin, he’s making steady gains within play-action, bootleg, and RPO concepts and has already put solid tape together when stepping in for Jordan Love. Playbook continuity, familiar terminology, and trust from the staff are advantages a young QB is reluctant to trade away midseason.

For the Bengals , the refusal pushes them back toward free agency or a different trade construction—alongside the challenge of a streamlined playbook install so any newcomer can quickly sync with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Despite the enticing financials, midseason integration and system fit remain practical hurdles.

For the Packers, Willis’s decision stabilizes depth behind Jordan Love and underscores the developmental pull of Green Bay’s program. If this scenario unfolded in reality, it would mark a win for direction and culture, where fit outweighs the figures on a contract.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side