Malik Willis gets QB1 chance with Dolphins in win-win deal for both sides

Free-agent quarterback Malik Willis agreed to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million that includes $45 million guaranteed, a league source told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on Monday.

The 26-year-old signal-caller was ranked No. 8 among The Athletic’s top-150 free agents and was the second-ranked quarterback behind Daniel Jones.

Willis, a third-round pick in 2022 by the Tennessee Titans who spent the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, became highly sought after following his impressive Week 17 showing against the Baltimore Ravens. Starting in place of an injured Jordan Love, he completed 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Willis also performed well in relief the week before, completing 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a score in an overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.

Willis made three starts over his two seasons in Green Bay and completed 78 percent of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He joined the Packers in 2024 after the Titans traded him to Green Bay for a seventh-round pick.

Willis came into the league as Ryan Tannehill’s backup in Tennessee and made three starts (and appeared in eight games) as a rookie in 2022 for the Titans. He completed only 50.8 percent of his passes for 276 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, falling to No. 3 on the depth chart the next season after Tennessee drafted Will Levis. Willis saw only brief action in three games, attempting five passes on the season.

How he fits

The Dolphins were the most logical landing spot for Willis after the overhaul in team leadership this offseason. Miami hired longtime Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as its new general manager in January. The Dolphins also hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to be their new head coach. Hafley was the Packers’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons. Willis has a limited resume — a combined three starts the past two seasons and six NFL starts overall — but no one in the NFL looking for a quarterback has a better idea of who Willis is and what he has to offer than Miami’s new brass.

2026 roster impact

The Dolphins agreed to terms on the same day they announced that they would release Tua Tagovailoa, instantly making the 26-year-old Willis QB1 in Miami. Willis doesn’t have much competition for the starting role, with 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers in line to be Willis’ backup.

Cap update

Given the massive hit the Dolphins will have to carry on their cap following the release of Tagovailoa, and considering the lack of top quarterback talent in this year’s draft behind Fernando Mendoza, getting a QB1 on the terms for Willis was the best-case scenario for Miami. Willis’ $22.5 million AAV slots in 21st in 2026 among quarterbacks, according to Spotrac. That’s just ahead of Justin Fields and just behind Baker Mayfield.

Saad Yousuf’s takeaway

This was a move that made the most sense for the team and player. The Dolphins got burned in a big way by Tagovailoa’s massive contract. Willis gives them an instant QB1 on a moderate deal, where the upside of the player could be much greater than his contract. This also makes sense for Willis, who has a limited sample in the NFL as a starter. Joining a situation in which everybody already believes in him should make things easier. He also has some talent around him in running back De’Von Achane and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins won’t be able to put a ton around Willis in his first year due to a lack of cap space, but they do have draft picks to spend and there are no expectations to become a winner right away.