The Miami Dolphins found their post-Tua Tagovailoa quarterback in March 2026, signing former Packers backup Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract that includes $45 million fully guaranteed, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal was agreed on March 9, hours after Miami announced it would release Tagovailoa, and Willis officially signed on March 12 when the new league year opened. It was the centerpiece of a full reset under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
Not a Prospect: Willis’ Winding Road to Miami
Willis did not arrive in Miami as a college prospect. He was a four-year NFL veteran by the time he signed. After starting his college career at Auburn, he transferred to Liberty, where he starred in 2020 and 2021 and won the Bobby Bowden Award in 2021. The Tennessee Titans took him in the third round, 86th overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft. His two seasons in Nashville were rough: in three starts he struggled to read defenses and move the offense. A 2024 trade to Green Bay gave him a reset as Jordan Love’s backup under Matt LaFleur. 
Inside the Deal: $67.5 Million, Built Like a Two-Year Bet
The headline number is $67.5 million over three years, but the deal is built around its first two seasons. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, it includes a reported $22.5 million signing bonus (some outlets reported the bonus as $22.25 million), a fully guaranteed $1.25 million salary in 2026, and a fully guaranteed $21.5 million salary in 2027. The 2028 season carries a $20.5 million salary and a $2 million roster bonus that is not guaranteed. Miami also added two void years to spread the signing bonus, which keeps Willis’ 2026 cap hit to roughly $5.7 million before it rises to about $26 million in 2027, according to The Phinsider’s breakdown. 
The Green Bay Connection Behind the Signing
Miami’s front office knew exactly who it was paying. Sullivan and Hafley both spent the previous two seasons in Green Bay with Willis. So did defensive coordinator Sean Duggan and passing game coordinator Ryan Downard. That familiarity is the core of the bet. Willis looked like a different quarterback in LaFleur’s offense, which played to his accuracy and his ability as a runner. In Green Bay, Willis went 2-1 as a starter in 11 appearances, completed nearly 79% of his passes for 972 yards on 89 attempts, and threw six touchdowns without an interception, per Yahoo Sports. ESPN’s Seth Walder called it his favorite Dolphins move of the offseason, saying the signing “makes a world of sense for a team that’s starting over,” as quoted by Newsweek. 
Early Returns: A Rough 0-3 Start in 2026
The first three weeks have been hard. Miami opened 0-3 with losses at Las Vegas (27-13), at San Francisco (35-13), and at home to Kansas City (24-10). Through three games, Willis completed 49 of 86 passes (57%) for 627 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions, and nine sacks, per the Dolphins’ official player page. The context matters. Miami’s offensive line gave up nine sacks in the first two games alone, and the offense is averaging 12 points per game, 31st in the league. Athlon Sports draft analyst Luke Easterling put it bluntly: “Malik Willis isn’t the problem in Miami,” as reported by Athlon. Willis has shown flashes, including a rushing touchdown in his Week 1 debut and a 77-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Miller in the 49ers loss. His job now is to protect the ball behind a struggling line and give the staff a reason to keep building around him. 
What Comes Next for Willis and the Dolphins
The contract sets a clear deadline. Willis’ 2027 salary is already fully guaranteed, so Miami is effectively committed through next season. The real decision comes before the 2028 roster bonus is due. That gives Willis the rest of 2026 to prove he can be more than a well-protected backup who made the most of limited snaps. If the Dolphins land a top-five pick, they could draft a quarterback and let him develop behind Willis. Either way, Willis is now a team’s clear starter for the first time in his career, after just six starts in four seasons before Miami. The next 14 games will decide whether Miami’s $45 million guarantee was a smart buy-low move or an expensive experiment. For a comparison with another big 2026 quarterback contract, see our breakdown of the Colts’ deal with Daniel Jones.
