The Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins were occasionally good. They were never great. After five seasons and two head coaches, it was clear both sides needed a fresh start.
Thus, Tagovailoa was released this offseason. It wasn't cheap. The Dolphins absorbed $55 million in dead salary cap commitments stemming from the regrettable four-year, $212 million contract extension the former fifth overall pick signed in 2024. They'll absorb another $43 million in dead space next offseason, per Over the Cap.
This costly reset gave way to a new quarterback -- one that lacks Tagovailoa's NFL resume, but also a much cheaper option. Miami signed former Tennessee Titans washout and Green Bay Packers success story Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal that can be effectively a two-year tryout with modest dead cap left behind in 2028.
For Willis, it's a chance to prove he's a bonafide NFL starter. For the Dolphins, it's an opportunity to see if a player who thrived in small sample sizes the last two seasons can elevate a depleted roster toward something better.
How did Willis revive his career with the Packers?
Willis became one of the league's most valuable understudies in his two seasons in Green Bay. Across 11 games -- three starts -- in relief of Jordan Love, he completed 78 percent of his passes, averaged just under 11 yards per attempt and threw six touchdown passes without an interception. He also ran for 262 yards and three touchdowns at a 6.2 yard per carry clip. The sample size is tiny, but among quarterbacks who played at least 120 snaps the past two years, his 0.377 expected points added (EPA) were best in the league -- and significantly better than second-place Josh Allen (0.277).
That's not sustainable, but the Dolphins are hoping he can be more than just a guy who took opposing defenses by surprise in limited snaps. Willis thrived in a Green Bay offense that perpetually creates space for its wideouts and tight ends. Head coach Matt LaFleur simplified Love's playbook to boost his young backup. The former Titan was given the green light to take off if his first, then second reads weren't there (obviously that shifted based on down and distance, but his time to throw and sack rate both declined significantly as a Packer).
Willis used this space and his athleticism to thrive. He came back with a few more arrows in his quiver for 2025, and while he couldn't win a late-season start against the Baltimore Ravens he still shined in extended duty in Weeks 16 and 17. That made him one of the league's most intriguing free agents.
What can Willis bring to Miami?
First-year head coach Jeff Hafley knows Willis well; he'd seen him in practice each of the last two seasons as the Packers' defensive coordinator. He'll give his new quarterback a long runway that will likely extend into 2027. There's a reason for that; the Dolphins depth chart is... uninspiring.
Willis left one of the league's deepest young receiving corps for one headlined by Caleb Douglas, Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert. While he's got an electric running back in De'Von Achane and a tight end who might have figured it out in Greg Dulcich, the talent level in south Florida is significantly lower than the one that revived his value in Wisconsin.
What Miami needs to see from him is the command he showcased in Green Bay. Willis was decisive, accurate with his throws and didn't try to do too much, protecting the ball and committing only two turnovers -- both fumbles -- as a Packer. The Dolphins will likely be trailing often this season. That will pressure him into some Blake Bortles opportunities for big, empty stats and the opportunity to develop bad habits.
If he can avoid that temptation, seize the openings afforded to him (in space, hopefully, created by another efficient season from Achane) and keep his offense running, 2026 will be a success regardless of Miami's record. If he begins to panic under pressure and force throws to an underwhelming receiving corps, it will put him under a spotlight for 2027 and potentially convince the franchise to draft his replacement.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why the Dolphins signed Malik Willis as their possible franchise QB