INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 NFL free agency tampering window opens in just 11 days, and the most fiercely debated name in the league isn’t a seasoned Pro Bowler. It’s Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis. A quarterback with just six career starts and 155 pass attempts is suddenly the belle of the ball. Whispers walking the halls of the Scouting Combine originally pegged his market at a staggering $30 million annually. The reality? A high-stakes bidding war is brewing, and teams desperate for a signal-caller are ready to crack open their checkbooks for untapped potential.
The Justin Fields Blueprint
Willis rebuilt his reputation backing up Jordan Love. He flashed a cannon for an arm and lethal dual-threat speed in limited action. But handing $30 million a year to a guy who spent the bulk of his career holding a clipboard scares some front offices. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, executives see a different financial baseline. They view Justin Fields’ massive two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets last season as the most accurate market comparison.
Fowler killed the $30 million rumor fast. He reported that expecting a player with six starts to clear that threshold is highly unrealistic. Instead, the sweet spot sits right around the $20 million to $25 million per year mark. Factor in a rising salary cap and multiple desperate general managers, and Willis could easily secure a $50 million payday over two years. Teams are essentially paying for a lottery ticket. If he hits, they get a franchise quarterback at a discount. If he fails, they reset the clock in 2028.
“Malik has become one of my best friends, and there’s honestly no one more deserving of everything coming his way. I know firsthand it’s never been about money or headlines for him but it’s about the work, the faith, and showing up every single day… Wherever you go, that team is getting a STUD.”
— Sean Clifford, Former Packers Teammate
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
You can feel the tension radiating from quarterback-needy teams right now. The Miami Dolphins have the clearest inside track. Their new brain trust—General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley—just arrived from Green Bay. They know exactly how Willis operates in meetings, in the locker room, and under pressure. Giving Willis a two-year deal offers Miami a clean out from the Tua Tagovailoa era.
Do not count out the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Mike LaFleur is heavily scouting the market as the front office tries to untangle the messy Kyler Murray situation. Willis gives them immediate flexibility and explosive upside. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns checked in, but with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders clogging up their depth chart, a move there looks dead on arrival. The Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike McCarthy need a long-term plan, but they seem perfectly content squeezing one more year out of Aaron Rodgers.
Expect the Dolphins to strike early. When the legal tampering period opens, Miami will likely push a two-year, $50 million contract across the table. They need a fresh start, and Willis needs a franchise willing to hand him the keys.
