Malik Willis is poised to become a starting quarterback in the 2026 NFL season, but it will not be with the Green Bay Packers. Over the past two seasons, Willis has impressed while stepping in for Jordan Love, completing 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions, along with 261 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. With his proven ability, Malik Willis NFL free agency is shaping up to be highly competitive.
While the Miami Dolphins were initially seen as strong favorites to sign Willis, the Arizona Cardinals are now emerging as a serious contender. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler highlighted that the Cardinals have clear ties to Willis and could rival the Dolphins in pursuit of the quarterback.
Relationships Drive Cardinals’ Interest in Willis
The Dolphins’ front office added Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach this offseason. They had also briefly employed Nathaniel Hackett as their quarterbacks coach before he left. Meanwhile, Hackett reunited with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur, becoming Arizona’s offensive coordinator. The synergy between LaFleur and Hackett provides the Cardinals with detailed insight into Willis’s play style.
“Two teams I’ll be watching to pursue Malik Willis, if they can find someone to take their current quarterbacks, are the Cardinals and Dolphins. The ties are obvious: New Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley got a head start on Willis from Green Bay, and new Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur can get intimate knowledge of Willis’ game from LaFleur’s brother, Matt.” – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN NFL Insider
This connection, particularly with Mike LaFleur’s brother Matt LaFleur coaching in Green Bay and closely familiar with Willis, could give the Cardinals a strategic advantage in evaluating and acquiring Willis.
Salary Cap Challenges Could Influence the Decision
Both the Dolphins and Cardinals may face hurdles in moving on from their current starting quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray respectively, as both teams would incur significant dead money against their salary caps. This financial complexity could affect how each franchise approaches free agency negotiations with Willis. One possible solution involves offering Willis a multi-year contract with more guaranteed money upfront, potentially easing cap pressures in the initial season.
Meanwhile, the Packers are expected to receive a favorable compensatory draft pick for Willis in 2026, likely around the third-round level due to his projected starting salary. However, Green Bay will need to address the backup quarterback role going forward.
Strategic Importance of Signing an Experienced Quarterback in 2026
Both Arizona and Miami have clear motivations to target Willis given the 2026 NFL Draft’s anticipated shortage of high-caliber quarterback prospects. Acquiring a quarterback like Willis, who has demonstrated effectiveness against NFL defenses, offers these teams a lower-risk option compared to drafting an unproven player. This strategy allows either franchise to strengthen their roster immediately while preparing for future drafts with potentially deeper quarterback pools.
As Malik Willis NFL free agency approaches, the competition between the Cardinals and Dolphins highlights a key quarterback battle that could shape the landscape of several NFL teams. Observers will be watching closely to see how this bidding war develops and what offers emerge, especially considering the salary cap implications and the depth of the upcoming draft class.
