Malik Willis is on the verge of securing a significant contract as the quarterback market heats up in 2026. After spending most of the previous season backing up Jordan Love in Green Bay, Willis’s impressive performances in limited starts have dramatically elevated his profile. With the 2026 NFL draft class for quarterbacks expected to be thin, securing a young, proven option like Willis has become a priority for many teams. His potential free agent contract, projected to be worth between $20 million and $30 million annually, underscores the demand for his talents.
Willis, currently with the Green Bay Packers, is set to enter unrestricted free agency for the first time after signing a modest four-year rookie deal worth $5.16 million in 2022. This upcoming payday would represent a substantial financial leap reflective of his enhanced market value and the scarcity of viable quarterback prospects in this offseason.
Several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers, are reportedly tracking Willis’s availability closely, aware that a reliable dual-threat quarterback could provide immediate impact. The Arizona Cardinals also loom as potential suitors given their uncertain quarterback future following Kyler Murray’s foot injury and subsequent absence.
Willis’s On-Field Performance Boosts His Appeal
During his limited starting opportunities with the Packers, Malik Willis showcased a high level of efficiency and versatility. Over three starts, he compiled a 2-1 record, completing 70 of 89 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns, without throwing an interception. On the ground, he added 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating the dynamic qualities that make him such an attractive target this offseason.
Experts agree that the scarcity of top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft elevates the significance of proven performers like Willis. Fernando Mendoza is widely regarded as the top pick in the draft, but teams seeking a more immediate solution are increasingly interested in Willis’s dual-threat skillset and maturity as he approaches his 27th birthday this May.
Packers QB Malik Willis could get a deal worth $20M-$30M per year in free agency, per @TomPelissero,
reporter Dov Kleiman wrote on X.
Willis is going to be in extremely high demand 📈
– Dov Kleiman, NFL Reporter
Financial Challenges Complicate Miami Dolphins’ Pursuit of Willis
The Miami Dolphins find themselves in a difficult financial position that clouds their ability to compete aggressively for Malik Willis’s services. Despite freeing salary cap space by releasing key players such as wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the biggest obstacle remains the quarterback situation surrounding Tua Tagovailoa.
Tua’s sizeable guaranteed salary of $54 million for 2026, combined with the associated dead cap penalties if released or traded, severely limits Miami’s flexibility. If Tagovailoa is cut before June 1, the Dolphins would incur a $99.2 million dead cap charge; releasing him after that date would reduce it to $67.4 million, and a trade would leave $45.2 million on the books. Currently, Miami holds just $3.18 million in cap space, making a lucrative deal for Willis seemingly out of reach.
New Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, who previously worked alongside Willis in Green Bay as defensive coordinator, has expressed interest in bringing Willis to Miami. Additionally, Miami’s general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, formerly a senior Packers personnel executive, may favor the familiar talent. Nevertheless, the financial constraints create a significant barrier to signing the quarterback at the expected market rate.
Miami’s Backup Plans Amid Salary Constraints
Should the Dolphins be unable to afford Malik Willis, the team may pivot toward more economical veteran alternatives such as Jimmy Garoppolo. Even then, veteran presence won’t guarantee the starting role, as Miami could also extend a legitimate opportunity to their young quarterback, Bryce Ewers. Ewers showed promise by throwing for 622 yards and three touchdowns in four games during Tagovailoa’s injury absence, though he was regarded by evaluators as a mid-round prospect who slipped to the later rounds of the draft.
This evolving quarterback landscape within Miami highlights the tension between the team’s financial realities and its competitive ambitions. Whether through a high-profile signing like Willis or development of internal options, the Dolphins face a crucial offseason decision about the future of their quarterback room.
Potential Destinations Beyond Miami for Willis
Apart from Miami, the Arizona Cardinals could emerge as a strong contender for Malik Willis, especially given Kyler Murray’s injury and uncertain contract status. With Murray sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a foot injury, Arizona faces a pressing need to explore alternative quarterback options to ensure stability.
Other teams such as the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers have also shown interest in Willis, reflecting widespread recognition of his potential value as a starting-caliber quarterback. As a free agent in a thin draft class year, Willis’s market is expected to be intensely competitive, with franchises vying for his versatile skillset.
The Broader Implications of Malik Willis’s Next Contract
Malik Willis’s impending free agency represents a pivotal moment in the quarterback market with ripple effects across multiple franchises. If he secures a large contract, it will signify a major leap from his rookie deal and validate the value of dual-threat quarterbacks who can contribute in both passing and rushing dimensions.
For the Dolphins, the outcome will influence whether they invest heavily in a quarterback like Willis or build around alternative options within a restricted salary cap. Across the league, Willis’s signing could shift power dynamics, affecting teams searching for long-term solutions under center amid a sparse draft landscape.
As negotiations progress over the coming months, fans and analysts alike will closely monitor which franchise claims Willis’s talents and how this decision shapes quarterback strategies in the 2026 NFL season and beyond.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Packers QB Malik Willis could get a deal worth $20M-$30M per year in free agency, per @TomPelissero
Willis is going to be in extremely high demand 📈 pic.twitter.com/LFusHGwzYw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 22, 2026
