Impending free agent quarterback Malik Willis is about to make a lot of money. A former third-round pick, the Liberty product entered the league with the Tennessee Titans but failed to impress during his limited playing time. However, he joined the Green Bay Packers in his third season and played like a legitimate franchise quarterback when filling in for Jordan Love. Over the last two seasons, Willis has completed 70 of his 89 passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions while adding 261 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
This is an admittedly small sample, so take these numbers with a grain of salt, but some quarterback-desperate team will try to see if Malik Willis can maintain this level of efficiency as a full-time starter. Green Bay won’t be able to keep him as a backup, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the quarterback will sign with either the Miami Dolphins or the Cleveland Browns.
REPORT: Browns, Dolphins Could Sign Free Agent Malik Willis
It’s easy to see why the Miami Dolphins would be interested in signing Malik Willis as a free agent. Even with former head coach Mike McDaniel gone, it’s safe to assume the team will move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. While the Alabama product had his moments over the past few seasons, he was never as good as his box score stats would suggest, and his extensive concussion injury has sapped his natural abilities and made him a walking injury risk.
The Dolphins need someone new under center, and Malik Willis is probably the best free agent option available at the quarterback position. Additionally, the Dolphins hired former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to be the next head coach, and he’s obviously familiar with what Willis can bring to the table.
This signing makes all the sense in the world, but Miami might not have the money to make the highest offer. It’s impossible to predict the free agent market, but Tagovailoa’s contract might prevent Miami from making the highest offer. The Browns, however, have plenty of money and could pursue the veteran if they don’t believe in former fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
Browns Quarterback Controversy
After most analysts projected him to go off the board in the first round, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While he entered the season as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, he eventually made his way onto the field and made seven starts. Unfortunately, his time on the field did not go well.
While he made a few impressive throws, Sanders’ overall body of work left a lot to be desired. In total, he completed just 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 6.6 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 44.1 PFF grade, the worst in the league among eligible passers.
Sanders didn’t do enough to establish himself as a future franchise quarterback, and his odds of starting in 2026 are even slimmer now that the team parted ways with former head coach Kevin Stefanski. While Malik Willis may not have that much experience, the free agent offers more upside and has proven he can play well in the right environment – something that cannot be said of Sanders.
Main Photo: Dan Powers – Imagn Images
