Malik Willis Reunites With Former Packers in Miami
The former Packers backup signs a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami, including $45 million guaranteed.
By PackerAaron
The Miami Dolphins are turning to a familiar face at quarterback.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Malik Willis is signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami, including $45 million guaranteed. The move comes shortly after the Dolphins announced plans to release starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, clearing the way for Willis to take over as the team’s new starter.
The signing also reunites Willis with two former Packers figures who know him well. Miami’s new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley both arrived from the Packers this offseason, where Willis spent the last two years backing up Jordan Love.
While Willis saw limited playing time in Green Bay, he made the most of his opportunities. Over two seasons he appeared in 11 games and made three starts, flashing his dual-threat ability with six passing touchdowns and three rushing scores while avoiding turnovers entirely.
Originally selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Willis has started just six games in his NFL career. Still, his athleticism and development behind Love made him one of the more intriguing quarterback options on the market.
The Packers should receive a decent compensatory selection as a result, depending how the rest of free agency plays out, but as it stands, Tom Silverstein indicates Green Bay should be in line for a fourth or even possibly a third round selection in next year's draft.
As fate would have it, the Dolphins travel to Lambeau Field this season. Get ready for Jordan Love's showdown with his former backup...
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Comments (20)
Brewcity_BearsFan
March 09, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Coming out, Willis was regarded by some as the best QB in that draft class.
He was drafted into a terrible situation, thrown into the fire, and was terrible. Tennessee gave up on him.
Matt LaFluer deserves a lot of credit for helping Willis begin to realize his potential.
Miami still needs a lot of everything, and may still be setting themselves up to draft #1 in 2027. But good for Willis for getting paid, and hopefully he continues to excel.
MitchAnthony
March 09, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Congrats to Malik Willis. Did the best he could in Green Bay, helped the team, and now made bank because of it. He was good story while here and hopefully he has good days ahead of him with his new team.
Starrbrite
March 09, 2026 at 01:21 pm
Good for him—really liked him and his attitude. I hope succeeds at the highest levels.
Go Packers!!!
splitpea1
March 09, 2026 at 01:24 pm
Yes, if there's ever an ex-Packer to root for going forward, Willis is him.
splitpea1
March 09, 2026 at 01:31 pm
Malik really cashed in. I like the move by the Dolphins, but they'll be eating some serious money by releasing Tua. Well, they had to do something, and this looks like a pretty good answer for now. But I would have never guessed he would get this kind of money.
Starrbrite
March 09, 2026 at 02:26 pm
Right Split—that’s a heckuva pay day.
Cheezehead72
March 09, 2026 at 01:42 pm
I was hoping he was going to get $30 mil average per year but he did get $45 mil guaranteed and he saves on state income tax. Congrats. And he went to the AFC.
Starrbrite
March 09, 2026 at 02:27 pm
Yes—AFC —good for him/us.
EricTorkelson
March 09, 2026 at 03:47 pm
Unfortunately for Milak , I believe he will have to pay " Jock Tax" to Tennessee and to Wisconsin most likely he will end up paying more than 50% in taxes on his deal when everything is said and done...
Starrbrite
March 09, 2026 at 07:34 pm
Whew—that’s a serious hit.
jont
March 09, 2026 at 03:52 pm
I think he does get 30.
The 22.5 over three years is 7.5 per, so 45+15 for two years = $30 mln/yr.
Then, he and the Dolphins hope, he earns a long term $55 mln/yr deal.
NFLfan
March 09, 2026 at 01:52 pm
OMG!-I'm thrilled!!. I bet Dolphin fans are freaking out.
golfpacker61
March 09, 2026 at 02:32 pm
3rd round comp pick thank you very much. Let's get another 3rd and 2 4th rounders too.
EricTorkelson
March 09, 2026 at 05:11 pm
you can only get one third golfpack...
golfpacker61
March 09, 2026 at 07:42 pm
Are you sure on that Eric? I have read numerous articles on Green Bays chances for comp picks and they all said we could receive up to two 3rd round comps next year. In fact the article I read today said we could easily be looking at 2 thirds and 2 fourths in comp picks next year. 4 is the maximum in 1 year.
EricTorkelson
March 10, 2026 at 05:25 pm
My understanding is the best you can do is one 3rd one 4th one 5th one 6th at best, four comp picks total
golfpacker61
March 10, 2026 at 07:40 pm
From an article on SB Nation today about potential Packers 2027 comp picks:
If you compare the Packers’ losses this year — Willis for $22.5 million, Doubs for $17.5 million, Walker for $13.5 million and Enagbare for $10 million — you can safely claim that Green Bay should (anything can happen but these are pretty firm projections) be able to net a 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in the compensatory pick formula for these players, as long as Willis is the starting quarterback in Miami and doesn’t blow out his ACL in September or something.
That 6th has already been canceled out, though, and will be replaced by whatever Rasheed Walker signs for. If Walker signs for north of $21 million per, as expected, that means Green Bay should be working under the assumption that they’ll have two 3rds, a 4th and a 5th coming in 2027, barring a major injury to one of these outgoing free agents in 2026.
Snap the ball
March 09, 2026 at 02:53 pm
EVERY ONE MISSING THE POINT HERE
LOOK WHAT MLF DID FOR WILLIS. LOOK WHAT MLF HAD DONE FOR LOVE
WILLIS WILL HAVE BETTER NUMBERS THAN LOVE.
WHY
WILLIS IS BETTER THAN LOVE ….
WILLIS GREW UNDER MLF.
LOVE HAS NOT GROWN SINCE RODGERS LEFT
ONE FULL YEAR WILL WILLIS AS THE STATER WE GO DEEP INTO PLAYOFFS
BRINGS MORE TO THE GAME THAN LOVE
IN TWO YEARS LOVE WILL BE LEAVING LIKE GARY AND CLARK
LOVE REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP. NEEFS TO BE TOP 5 QB. He’s ABOUT TOP 15. …..
Malik takes dolphins to playoffs. Plus Malik comes to Lambeau I bet and beats the Packers. I assime Doubs is next to Miami
TXCHEESE
March 09, 2026 at 04:17 pm
Happy as Hell for Malik. Really thought he was going to the Cards and the other MLF.
Swisch
March 09, 2026 at 08:22 pm
I'm a big fan of Jordan Love, but this contract for Malik Willis is for three years at about the cost of Love for one year.
That seems like such a contrast, it gives me pause. Is Love three times better than Willis?
At this point, we don't know all that much about Willis; but then again, we don't know all that much about how Love is going to do in the future, either.
I'm not saying it would be better if Willis was with the Packers and Love was with some other team.
I'm just taken aback at this point, a little stunned.