Malik Willis Is About to Get Paid - Just Probably Not by the Dolphins
Malik Willis might’ve entered 2025 as a backup, but he’s heading into 2026 as one of the most intriguing quarterbacks on the free agent market - and he’s earned every bit of the attention. After outperforming his $1.4 million salary in Green Bay last season, Willis is poised to cash in, with an annual deal in the $10 million range very much on the table. But while the Miami Dolphins might seem like a natural landing spot - especially with Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan now in charge - the situation in South Florida is anything but simple.
Let’s talk about the Tua Tagovailoa-sized cloud hanging over Miami. The Dolphins are locked into a massive contract with their former first-round pick, and getting out of it isn’t just tricky - it’s financially brutal.
Cutting Tua would trigger a cap hit so large it could derail the team’s roster-building efforts. That leaves the Dolphins in a tough spot: do they bench a $56 million quarterback?
Do they try to ride it out and hope for a resurgence? Either way, it’s not exactly an ideal situation for a free-agent QB looking for a fresh start and a clear path to playing time.
That’s why, despite the narrative appeal of following familiar faces to Miami, Willis may be better off looking elsewhere - somewhere with less baggage and more opportunity.
Willis Has Options - and Momentum
Let’s be clear: Malik Willis didn’t just flash potential last season - he delivered when it counted. In Week 16 against the Bears, he stepped in after Jordan Love went down and gave the Packers a real chance to win.
His final line? 9-of-11 for 121 yards and a touchdown, plus 44 yards on the ground.
Green Bay didn’t win, thanks to some late-game defensive lapses and a special teams miscue, but Willis did his part and then some.
And then came Week 17 against Baltimore - a tougher opponent, a bigger stage, and somehow an even better performance. Willis went 18-of-21 for 288 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding 60 yards and two scores on the ground. That’s not just solid quarterback play - that’s dynamic, game-changing stuff.
Over his two seasons in Green Bay, Willis posted a 70-of-89 passing line for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. That’s a 134.6 passer rating and a QBR of 77.3 - numbers that would’ve led the league this year. Add in 261 rushing yards on 42 carries, three rushing touchdowns, and 15 first downs, and you’ve got a dual-threat QB who’s not just managing games - he’s making plays.
This isn’t the same Malik Willis who struggled to find his footing with the Titans. This is a quarterback who’s rebuilt his reputation, reshaped his game, and reinserted himself into the NFL conversation.
So Where Could He Land?
There’s no shortage of teams that could use a quarterback like Willis - someone who can step in as a high-end backup with the upside to become a long-term starter. In fact, based on how he played in 2025, Willis would’ve been an upgrade for at least a third of the league.
Let’s run through a few possibilities:
- Colts: Will they bring back Daniel Jones? That’s far from a sure thing.
- Steelers: Unless Aaron Rodgers makes an unexpected return, there’s no clear starter in Pittsburgh.
- Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett is a stopgap, not a solution.
- Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. has talent, but he can’t stay on the field.
- Vikings: J.J.
McCarthy might be the future, but that future looks shaky right now.
- Browns and Jets: Both are still searching for answers after failed quarterback experiments.
In any of these situations, Willis would have a real shot at the starting job - and in many cases, he’d be the favorite to win it outright.
A New Chapter Awaits
While the idea of reuniting with Hafley and Sullivan in Miami makes for a good story, it’s not the best football move for Malik Willis. The Tua situation is just too messy, too expensive, and too uncertain. Willis needs a clean slate - a team that’s looking for a quarterback, not trying to figure out what to do with the one they already paid.
Wherever he ends up, Willis has earned the right to compete. He’s shown he can play, he’s shown he can lead, and he’s shown he belongs. And for Packers fans, watching his next chapter unfold will be more than just a curiosity - it’ll be a storyline worth following.
He may not be Green Bay’s quarterback of the future, but Malik Willis has made it clear: he’s got a future in this league.