Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers
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Malik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
When the mention of NFL free agency comes up, there’s no player generating more buzz than Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis began drawing serious attention midway through last season after stepping in for Jordan Love.
Despite losing his lone start, Willis appeared in four games and finished with 545 total yards, completed 85.7% of his passes and accounted for five touchdowns.
Now, he’s arguably the top quarterback set to hit free agency in 2026. And he won’t come cheap.
With multiple quarterback-needy teams across the league, a bidding war feels inevitable for the 26-year-old. But Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio issued a warning that could make teams pause.
Dolphins, Cardinals Could Be Telling Indicators on Malik Willis
Several teams are expected to call Willis’ agent the moment the legal tampering window opens. Florio, however, believes two organizations in particular should serve as the league’s measuring stick.
“It would be potentially foolish for a team that doesn’t know Willis to pursue him if the Dolphins or Cardinals aren’t,” Florio wrote. “Those are the two teams in the best position to know whether Willis is ‘the guy.’ If they don’t believe it, it’s buyer beware for the other quarterback-needy teams.”
The Dolphins connection is obvious.
“In Miami, two former Packers now run the show,” Florio wrote of new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. “If they believe in Willis after two years of having full access to him, they’ll pursue him. If they don’t pursue him, they don’t believe.”
Florio added that Miami’s situation with Tua Tagovailoa complicates things financially.
“Willis would be a perfect fit particularly over the next two years, if a reasonable but fair contract can be negotiated during the cap wreckage of the Tua Tagovoa deal. It all comes down to whether two men who were able to watch him, to study him, to get to know him for two entire football seasons believe he’s equipped to be a high-level, week-in, week-out starting quarterback.”
As for Arizona, the link runs through the LaFleur family.
“Ditto for the Cardinals, indirectly,” Florio wrote. “They need a quarterback. New coach Mike LaFleur’s brother, Matt, coached Willis for two years. Assuming Matt will share his views with Mike about Malik, Mike will act accordingly. Especially since Mike needs a quarterback, too.”
The potential snag in Arizona would be whether general manager Monti Ossenfort or owner Michael Bidwill would sign off.
What Would Packers’ Free Agent Malik Willis Cost?
Florio’s logic is simple: if the two teams with the most inside knowledge pass, others should tread carefully.
But both Miami and Arizona have their own financial hurdles tied to Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray. Clearing those contracts isn’t simple.
That could open the door for another team to take the leap.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox projects Willis to land a three-year, $99 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.
“Expect Willis to be QB1 by the start of the legal tampering window on March 9 and to receive offers in the range of second-tier starters like Darnold and Mayfield,” Knox wrote.
If that number comes close, Willis won’t just be the most talked-about quarterback in free agency.
He’ll be one of the highest-paid.