Miami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are currently in the midst of a fire sale that has caught the NFL off guard. Earlier this week, the team sent shockwaves through the AFC by releasing eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill and two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb. 

On paper, it looks like a desperate attempt to fix a broken financial plan. But if you follow the trail of the man pulling the strings, new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, a much more calculated and controversial picture begins to emerge. 

Sullivan isn’t simply taking money off the books. Instead, he is clearing the table to install his own hand-picked franchise savior: impending free agent quarterback Malik Willis. 

More NFL Content From TWSN

2026 First Round NFL Mock Draft: 2 WRs in Top 5, Only 1 QB Drafted

Houston Texans Top 5 Offensive Targets in 2026 NFL Draft

Ranking the Top 3 Hires of the 2026 NFL Coaching Cycle

How The Miami Dolphins Are Clearing The Table for Malik Willis

To understand why the Dolphins are suddenly so high on Willis, you have to look at the new power structure in Miami Gardens. Sullivan spent over two decades in the Green Bay Packers’ front office, most recently serving as their Vice President of Player Personnel.

During his time there, he was instrumental in the trade that brought Willis to Green Bay in 2024. 

Sullivan didn’t come to Miami alone. He brought in Jeff Hafley as head coach, who also spent time with Willis in Green Bay. These two men have seen Willis’s career transformation firsthand.

While some may see a third-round pick who struggled in Tennessee, Sullivan and Hafley see a dual-threat weapon who looked exceptional while filling in for Jordan Love over the last two years, posting 972 yards and 6 touchdowns with zero interceptions across 11 appearances and three starts. 

Clearing $56 Million for a Mistake? 

Last week, Sullivan and the Dolphins cut the heart out of their roster. Releasing Hill, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Chubb has cleared over $56 million in 2026 cap space.

While standard news outlets are focusing on the loss of Hill’s production, the cap-savvy crowd is looking at the price tag for Willis. 

Projections suggest that Willis could command a deal as high as $71 million over two years in a weak quarterback market. This is where the propaganda turns into a heated debate.

Critics are already laughing at the prospect of Miami spending $35 million a year on a quarterback with only six career starts. However, Sullivan’s adherence to the Green Bay Way, drafting and developing high-upside athletes, suggests he believes Willis is the only bridge to a post-Tua future.

The End of the Tua Tagovailoa Era 

The elephant in the room remains Tua Tagovailoa. Sullivan has been cagey about Tua’s future, stating recently that he is getting close to a decision but that the team will infuse competition into the room regardless.

By cutting Tua’s favorite target in Hill, Sullivan has effectively signaled that the era of timing and precision is over in Miami. 

The new regime wants mobility, arm strength, and a Green Bay-style offense led by coordinator Bobby Slowik. If Willis signs, it will be a statement that signals Sullivan is willing to burn the old Dolphins down to build a Packers South in the Florida sun. 

A Risky, High-Stakes Gamble 

The Dolphins are at a crossroads. They pick at No. 11 in the 2026 NFL Draft, but many analysts describe this class as sparse in sure-fire quarterback talent.

By clearing the deck now, Sullivan has positioned Miami as the only team with both the personal connection and the financial war chest to overpay for Willis. 

Whether Malik Willis is the answer fans are starting to dream about, or a franchise-crippling mistake, depends entirely on Sullivan’s talent evaluation.

But one thing is certain: the table in Miami has been cleared, and the seat at the head is being saved for a man Sullivan knows better than anyone else in the league.

Related

Subscribe to the TWSN Newsletter for original reporting, bold opinions, and real analysis across NFL, NBA, UFC, College Football, and more.

Straight to your inbox. Always authentic.

Sign up now and never miss a moment.