The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback room is officially in flux, and the smoke surrounding a potential departure for Tua Tagovailoa has reached a fever pitch.
As the franchise looks to turn the page on the $212 million man, an unexpected but intriguing name has emerged at the top of the replacement list: Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis.
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Willis made a lot of his money last season filling in for an injured Jordan LoveCredit: Getty
According to recent reports from Athlon Sports and Fox Sports, the 26-year-old Willis has become a projected fit for a Dolphins team entering a massive period of transition.
With a new regime in place, the ties to Green Bay are making this rumor look more like an eventual reality.
The strongest evidence for a Willis-to-Miami move lies in the Dolphins’ front office and coaching staff. This offseason, Miami overhauled its leadership by hiring General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley, both of whom arrived directly from the Packers.
Hafley, who served as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator, spent the last year watching Willis develop firsthand on the scout team. Sullivan was part of the brain trust that traded for Willis and oversaw his resurgence as a viable NFL starter.
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As former NFL defensive back Jason McCourty noted on Get Up, “If you’re Jeff Hafley, you just spent the last two years going against Malik Willis every single day… why not bring him over and see what he can do with Bobby Slowik as the offensive coordinator?”
For Willis, his journey to this point has been a roller coaster.
Drafted in the third round by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, he struggled mightily in limited starts and was eventually shipped to Green Bay for a late-round pick.
However, under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur, Willis transformed.
In relief of an injured Jordan Love over the past two seasons, Willis posted eye-popping efficiency, completing nearly 79% of his passes with 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in that span.
In a 2025 start against the Ravens, he completed 85.7% of his passes while rushing for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
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Willis is the dual-threat quarterback Miami fans have been cravingCredit: Getty
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Tagovailoa’s time in Miami seems to be coming to an end
For a Dolphins team that hasn’t had a true dual-threat dimension at quarterback in quite some time, Willis represents a high-upside gamble.
Of course, moving on from Tagovailoa is no simple feat.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024, and the dead cap hit for releasing or trading him is substantial.
He is owed a fully guaranteed $54 million for the 2026 season alone and if Miami releases him before June 1st, they would be hit with $99.2 million in dead money—the largest single-player cap charge in NFL history, nearly doubling the previous record set by Russell Wilson ($53 million).
Cutting him outright would plunge the Dolphins’ 2026 salary cap into a massive deficit, currently projected at over $59 million in the red.
However, the Dolphins appear ready to bite the bullet.
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Willis’ redemption arc could be exactly what the Dolphins needCredit: Getty
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The question remains: What will Willis cost? Fox Sports analyst Greg Auman suggests Willis could command a “Justin Fields-type” deal—roughly two years and $40 million.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Ben Solak projects a value of $26 million per year, comparing the situation to Brock Osweiler’s 2016 free agency, where a team overpaid for a small but promising sample size of success.
While seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers showed flashes of potential late in the 2025 season, the Dolphins’ new regime likely wants “their guy” to lead the rebuild. Willis offers a blend of veteran experience and untapped athletic potential that fits the modern NFL mold.
If the Dolphins can navigate the cap nightmare of Tagovailoa’s exit, Willis may find himself going from a forgotten backup in Tennessee and a solid spot starter in Green Bay, to the face of a new era in Miami.
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For a fan base hungry for postseason success, ditching the Tagovailoa contract and signing Willis might be the boldest—and most necessary—move the franchise has made in years.
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