Grateful Malik Willis 'piece of puzzle' for revamped Dolphins QB room

New Miami QB Willis aims to make the most of his latest NFL opportunity after turbulent start to career.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:53pm

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Malik Willis, the former third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, has signed a 3-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. Willis, who spent the last two seasons on the Green Bay Packers' roster, is excited to work with new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, who are familiar with his attributes from their time in Green Bay. Willis is grateful for the chance to prove himself in Miami after a rocky start to his NFL career.

Why it matters

The Dolphins are looking to revamp their quarterback room after parting ways with former starter Tua Tagovailoa. Willis, with his poise, delivery, and potential, is seen as a key piece in the Dolphins' plans to turn around their offense which struggled in recent seasons.

The details

Despite a brief resume of just six career starts and 155 pass attempts over four years, the Dolphins' new braintrust of GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley are more familiar with Willis than most NFL teams. They observed the former third-round pick over the last two seasons while working on the Packers' staff and were convinced enough about his attributes to bring him to Miami. Willis, who admitted he wasn't prepared to be a franchise quarterback during his time with the Titans, said he never put a timeline on when he expected another team to grant him another chance. He drifted through four different offenses through his first four seasons, which sandwiched a 2024 trade from the Titans to the Packers. Willis declined to describe interest he received from other teams this off-season, but said he was drawn to the Dolphins because of Hafley and Sullivan's ability to give him deliberate feedback on how to improve his game.

  • Willis signed a 3-year, $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins in March 2026.
  • Willis was traded from the Titans to the Packers in 2024.

The players

Malik Willis

A 26-year-old quarterback who was signed by the Miami Dolphins to a 3-year, $67.5 million contract in March 2026 after spending the last two seasons on the Green Bay Packers' roster.

Jon-Eric Sullivan

The new general manager of the Miami Dolphins, who previously worked on the Green Bay Packers' staff and is familiar with Malik Willis' attributes.

Jeff Hafley

The new head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who previously worked on the Green Bay Packers' staff and is familiar with Malik Willis' attributes.

Tua Tagovailoa

The former starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, who the team parted ways with prior to signing Malik Willis.

Mike McDaniel

The former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who was fired in January 2026 and hired a month later as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

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What they’re saying

“There are a lot of great reasons to be here. Those two guys are the biggest ones, in my opinion as far as what I see in this organization and this team becoming.”

— Malik Willis (Breitbart)

“You've got to lean not on your own understanding, that's for sure. And you've gotta trust in God's plan for your life. When he wakes you up and gives you opportunity to get better, I think that's all you should ask for. When an opportunity arises, that's when you'll be able to take advantage of it.”

— Malik Willis (Breitbart)

What’s next

The Dolphins will look to Willis to help turn around their struggling offense as they aim to compete in the AFC East.

The takeaway

Malik Willis' journey to the Dolphins represents another chance for a quarterback who didn't initially pan out, but is now looking to follow in the footsteps of other veterans who went on to find success later in their careers. The Dolphins are banking on Willis' potential and the familiarity of their new braintrust to help revive their offense.