Packers $40 million free agent predicted to depart Green Bay for Dolphins

After reviving his career with the Green Bay Packers, the expectation is Malik Willis is going to land a starting job somewhere in 2026.

Willis, who is a pending free agent, looked like a completely different quarterback when filling in for Jordan Love over the past two seasons. It wasn't just about the numbers, either, as Willis passed the eye test with flying colors.

There's a lot for quarterback-needy teams to be attracted to when it comes to Willis. The Liberty product can make all he throws, brings top-notch athleticism and he is still just 26, checking all the boxes teams want in a starting signal-caller.

One team that has been connected to Willis is the Miami Dolphins, and for good reason. Miami hired two Packers this offseason in Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach.

If you ask FOX Sports' Greg Auman, Miami is where Willis will ultimately land in free agency.

Willis, 26, may be the hardest free agent to ballpark in terms of how much money he'll get. There's an absolute lack of quality quarterbacks available, combined with a weak QB draft class, so teams without an obvious starter may overpay here. Willis has only six career starts, but his work in Green Bay has been promising — six touchdowns, zero interceptions over the last two years, with a 79% completion percentage. Could he be a match for former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, seeking a reasonably priced answer he can build around in Miami? You'll see him projected for a Justin Fields-type deal, like two years and $40 million.

Prediction: Signs with Dolphins

In an article highlighting teams that have interest in Willis, SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora reported that the Dolphins are among them, which only makes this prediction more realistic.

“I hear the same thing you do, about Miami and Cleveland,” an unnamed general manager said to La Canfora about Willis.

Also included in La Canfora's report is another general manager who believes that Willis will garner a deal similar to Justin Fields', which is two years and $40 million, with $30 million guaranteed.

The Dolphins are sure to be in the market for a veteran quarterback this offseason. Tua Tagovailoa looks finished in Miami, as the Dolphins are reportedly seeking a trade partner to unload him on.

Doing so would leave the Dolphins with 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, who showed some promise last season but not enough to cement himself as the team's long-term starter.

Signing Willis to a two-year deal to see if he can be "the guy" while Miami rebuilds makes total sense from the Dolphins' standpoint.

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