PHOENIX — As the Miami Dolphins have brought in new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis all from the Green Bay Packers, a reporter at NFL owners meetings referred to it as “Green Bay South” to Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

“That’s what I say, too,” LaFleur quipped at the Arizona Biltmore on Monday morning. “They’re taking everybody. What are they doing?”

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So, what is that Packers culture that Sullivan will bring with him from 22 years with the franchise and Hafley and Willis also picked up the last two seasons?

“I would just say it’s just about bringing the right kind of character into the building, and then just move quick every day and try to get a little better each and every day,” LaFleur said.

“I know Sully and Haf well, and I think they’re going to do a great job over there.”

In that, LaFleur likes the prospects of Willis, his backup quarterback behind Jordan Love in Green Bay, as he now has an opportunity to start with Miami.

“I’d say very high,” he said of the chances of Willis being a successful starter. “But I think, too many times, you get into situations where it can’t be all on the quarterback. You got to surround these guys with pieces. Nobody can do it by themselves.”

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LaFleur assured that was merely a general statement, and he wasn’t saying that’s what’s going on with the Dolphins, although it can be a fair criticism to say Willis doesn’t have ample playmakers around him after Miami’s trade of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.

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“I’m not saying they have or have not,” LaFleur said, “but I just think that has to be under consideration when you’re talking about the evaluation of a quarterback.”

Willis still has speedy Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane in the backfield at this time, but before the draft, the Dolphins top wide receivers are free-agent additions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert and third-year slot receiver Malik Washington.

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LaFleur looked back Monday on when the Packers first took him in in 2024 following two seasons where he couldn’t crack the Tennessee Titans starting job after he was a touted draft prospect out of Liberty.

“When (Packers GM Brian Gutekunst) called and asked if I was interested, I said, ‘Heck yeah,’ because it’s just hard to find a guy that athletic at that position,” LaFleur said. “We all saw what he did with his legs, but I think he’s receptive to the coaching and he’s shown a lot of growth in the passing game. Obviously, really talented thrower. He’d surprise me sometimes with his accuracy, especially down the field. Certainly excited about his opportunity in Miami, and we’re definitely missing him.”

Willis is naturally a capable scrambler, but on the Packers scout team, he’d often have to emulate pocket passers for the Green Bay defense during the practice week. It may have helped his development as a passer.

“He still scrambled around,” LaFleur said. “Every week was a little bit different. He did a great job of trying to play to kind of the look that we’re going to get. But he got a lot of opportunities within, whether it was the offseason program or training camp, to play within our system. He did a hell of a job.”

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LaFleur lost Hafley as his previous defensive coordinator of the past two seasons after Hafley’s four-year stint as Boston College coach.

“He’ll be outstanding,” LaFleur said of Hafley as a first-time NFL head coach. “He is, No. 1, a great person. He’s a great communicator, loves ball, loves people. And he’s done it. He’s been in the seat at BC. I think he did an outstanding job. He’s a guy that I got a ton of respect for, a ton of love for. Certainly going to miss him, but I’m happy for his opportunity.”