The Miami Dolphins found their new quarterback the same way the New York Jets did a year earlier. Now they have to hope Malik Willis’ revival is more sustainable than Justin Fields’ was.
The Dolphins were busy on the first day of NFL free agency, jettisoning Tua Tagovailoa (and absorbing a record $99 million in dead salary cap commitments), trading Minkah Fitzpatrick and signing Willis, the former Green Bay Packers backup who’ll immediately become the penciled-in QB1 for a rebuilding Miami team. He’ll be at the center of a rebuild, reuniting with former Packer defensive coordinator and current first-year Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since Big Willie Style dominated pop radio.
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Like Fields before him, Willis signs as a high-upside, low-floor player on a modest deal. Miami paid a bit more than Fields’ two-year, $40 million deal with $30 million guaranteed but also lacked Willis’ momentum after two seasons of shining as Jordan Love’s understudy. Still, he’s a significant investment for a team that desperately needs an answer behind center.
Let’s break it down.
The deal: Dolphins sign QB Malik Willis for three years, $67.5 million ($45 million guaranteed)
Dec 27, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) breaks away from Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) to score a touchdown in the second quarter at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Willis has looked like a modern franchise quarterback in a small sample size with the Packers. He’s been electric as a runner, producing 105 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) in what’s effectively four games worth of play the last two seasons.
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He’s also thrown six touchdown passes without an interception in that stretch, topping out with a 13.8 completion percentage over expected (CPOE) last fall. 60 NFL quarterbacks have taken at least 140 snaps the last two seasons; Willis’ 0.337 expected points added (EPA) per dropback ranks first by a significant margin.
Simply put, if the Dolphins get *that guy* for less than $23 million annually, they’ve made the greatest free agent signing in league history.
That’s unlikely to happen, but Willis’ ability to soar above expectations and command an offense suggests he can handle a 17-game grind. His accuracy improved significantly away from the porous offensive line that swatted at ghosts in front of him at the start of his career with the Tennessee Titans. When given modest time in the pocket he cycles through his reads efficiently and stands up to pressure to deliver accurate strikes. He’s also liable to pull the ball down and run, though not in a skittish way that tainted his 2022 game tape.
However, Matt LaFleur’s Packers offenses have been easy mode for his quarterbacks, scheming wide open targets and rewarding quick-processing passers with high probability throws for big gains. Love ranks third when it comes to EPA created since 2024 and still has significant questions to answer about whether he can be anything better than “good enough.” Now Willis heads to a rebuilding offense that has Jaylen Waddle, DeVon Achane and, uh… Malik Washington?
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Tagovailoa’s dead space will make any more high profile free agent additions difficult. Any more help will likely have to come through the draft and less-than-reliable rookie targets.
Even so, Willis looked incredible in limited snaps in Green Bay. His contract isn’t onerous and can likely be escaped from after the 2027 without taking on too much damage. This is a great risk for a rebuilding team to take, and one that could pay off handsomely.
Grade: A-
Other free agent signing grades:
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Malik Willis signs with Dolphins: Grade, analysis for Miami’s big deal