GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two years ago, Malik Willis was a project. Today, he’s one of the most intriguing names hitting the 2026 free agency market. After two seasons of near-flawless execution behind Jordan Love, Willis has rebuilt his reputation from a “raw talent” to a legitimate starting option.
With the legal tampering period just weeks away, the market is heating up. And according to league sources, two teams are already circling the wagons: the Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Connection Factor
In the NFL, it’s not just about what you know—it’s about who drafted you, who coached you, and who trusts you. For Willis, those breadcrumbs lead straight to Miami and Arizona.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pinpointed these two franchises as the primary suitors, and the logic is hard to ignore. The Dolphins just overhauled their leadership, hiring former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as head coach and Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM. They saw Willis carve up defenses in practice every day in Green Bay. They know exactly what he brings to the locker room.
Arizona is just as tangled in the Packers’ coaching tree. New head coach Mike LaFleur can get the unvarnished truth about Willis from his brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. If Matt gives the thumbs up, Mike will listen.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Willis didn’t just hold a clipboard in Green Bay. When he played, he was surgical. Across 11 appearances and three starts over the last two seasons, Willis put up video-game efficiency numbers:
- Completion Percentage: 78.65% (Elite accuracy)
- TD/INT Ratio: 6 Touchdowns, 0 Interceptions
- Passer Rating: 101.6
- Rushing: 261 yards and 3 TDs on 42 carries
He wasn’t just managing the game; he was elevating it. That 78% completion rate screams “system mastery,” which is exactly what teams like the Dolphins—who are navigating a massive financial crunch with Tua Tagovailoa—need in a bridge quarterback.
“We’d love to have Malik back, but to be realistic, I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to maybe play more than he would here. So we’ll see where that goes.” — Brian Gutekunst, Packers General Manager
The Packers aren’t waiting around. Anticipating Willis’s exit (and the juicy compensatory draft pick that comes with it), Green Bay has already retooled the quarterback room. They signed veteran Desmond Ridder late in the season and added former Syracuse gunslinger Kyle McCord on a futures deal in January. McCord, a 2025 sixth-round pick by the Eagles, gives them a young arm to develop, while Ridder offers veteran stability.
NHANFL Verdict
Malik Willis is 26 years old with a rocket arm, elite mobility, and two years of high-level coaching under his belt. He failed in Tennessee, but he thrived in Green Bay. Now, he gets a chance to prove he can be “the guy” somewhere else.
Expect Miami or Arizona to make a move early. The connections are too strong, and the need for a cost-effective, high-upside starter is too high to ignore.
