Malik Willis, Packers
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Green Bay Packers are likely to lose a couple prominent offensive players this offseason, including one who has proven a valuable addition to the franchise over the past two years.
Backup quarterback Malik Willis, 26, who has become a fan favorite after stepping in successfully for Jordan Love across meaningful stretches in each of the past two seasons, is coming up on free agency in March. Green Bay would love to hold onto Willis, but the former third-round pick has performed well enough to earn a shot at a starting job in his fifth NFL campaign.
A handful of teams could make sense, including the Cleveland Browns or the Arizona Cardinals. However, the franchises getting the most buzz with regards to a Willis signing are the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins just hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their head coach and former Green Bay vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager, so the ties to Willis are there. However, ESPN analyst Mina Kimes believes it is Pittsburgh where Willis will land next.
“Two of the teams I’ve been hearing a lot are Miami [and] Pittsburgh,” Kimes said, per SleeperNFL on X. “I just don’t think it makes sense for [Miami’s] timeline, whereas Pittsburgh … I think the timeline and the player just match up.”
Malik Willis Dubbed “Underrated” Heading Into Free Agency for First Time
Miami Dolphins
GettyGreen Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis has completed 67.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,322 yards six TDs and three INTs across 22 appearances, including six starts (3-3), in his four-year NFL career. He has also rushed the football for 405 yards and four scores.
Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus earlier this week dubbed Willis as the most underrated free agent quarterback in the 2026 class.
“Even though the former third-round pick saw just 314 snaps over the past two seasons with the Packers, he flashed enough potential to earn a starting position elsewhere,” Buday wrote. “He tossed six touchdown passes with no interceptions and made just one turnover-worthy pass to five big-time throws.”
“Among the 60 quarterbacks who logged at least 120 dropbacks over the past two seasons, Willis ranks first in passer rating (132.5) by a significant margin and 13th in PFF passing grade (79.9),” Buday continued.
Malik Willis Projected to Earn Between $30-$35 Million Annually Starting Next Season
Miami Dolphins
GettyGreen Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
The primary reason that the Packers can’t bring Willis back is because they can’t afford to pay him a starting quarterback’s salary behind Love, who has three years remaining on a $220 million deal.
ESPN’s Ben Solak suggested on February 9 that Willis could ink a contract worth up to $30 million annually with the right team, mentioning the Browns in that context.
“The Browns should aggressively pursue and sign Willis in free agency.” Solak wrote. “Already leveraged aggressively against future cap years, the Browns will start to make up financial ground only once they have a quarterback on a good deal.”
Spotrac currently projects Willis’s market value at $35.5 million annually over a new two-year contract (approximately $71 million total).