The Miami Dolphins have been connected to possible interest in Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis, which makes sense.
After all, the Dolphins appear set to move on from Tua Tagovailoa and that could put them in the market for a new starter.
A pending free agent, Willis has connections to the Dolphins through head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, both of whom were in Green Bay with Willis the last two seasons.
According to Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline, “the overwhelming belief” from his sources is Hafley indeed wants to sign Willis. However, Pauline adds that may not be possible given the Dolphins’ poor financial situation.
“The overwhelming belief from people I’ve spoken with is that Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley favors signing Malik Willis, the former Green Bay Packers backup who is slated for free agency,” Pauline wrote. “Yet, many question whether Miami will have enough money to sign Willis in free agency, considering the interest building in the quarterback and the contract he will ultimately sign.”
If Willis doesn’t end up in Miami, the team is expected to roll with 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, who has a fan in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Pauline goes on to say that signing a veteran backup like Jimmy Garoppolo is also part of the backup plan should signing Willis not pan out.
“Bobby Slowik, who was elevated from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator, is a big fan of Quinn Ewers, who did a solid job starting in place of Tagovailoa during the final three games of the season,” Pauline wrote.
“If the Dolphins can’t afford to bring in a coveted veteran, a source tells me the likely plan includes using Ewers as the starter in 2026 and signing an inexpensive backup, such as Jimmy Garoppolo,” he added.
Not mentioned in Pauline’s report is the Dolphins drafting a quarterback. We would not rule out that happening, but with a weak quarterback class this year, it’s certainly not a given.
Ewers got the nod as the Dolphins’ starter last season after the team benched Tua. The rookie did show some flashes, completing 66.3% of his passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns to three picks in four games (three starts).
But the jury is still out on Ewers, so there’s no guarantee he’d last more than one year as the team’s starter. If not, the Dolphins will likely turn to the 2027 NFL Draft, which has a much stronger class at the position than this year’s draft.
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