The Miami Dolphins released Tua Tagovailoa and quickly replaced him with Malik Willis. This is a massive commitment, as it's a $67.5 million deal over three years for Willis.
After making such a splash, there were many opinions. Getting Willis for three years at $22.5 million per-season is not as much as the $30 million projected for Willis at times this offseason. But it's still a risky addition.
Matt Okada of NFL.com emphasized how this is one of the biggest risks this offseason. He pointed out fear of the money being spent at quarterback, and how, if this doesn't go well, he could have a Justin Fields career arc, which would be a disaster for Miami.
Malik Willis' signing is big risk for two reasons
"They're still going to have $99.2 million of dead money locked up in Tua Tagovailoa and have now committed tens of millions more over the next three years to an unproven player who has enjoyed his greatest NFL success to date as a spot starter," Okaka writes.
The Dolphins are taking on $99.2 million in dead money with the release of Tagovailoa, and with this $67.5 million addition of Willis, they're adding a lot more money onto their books at just one position.
Based on the $22.5 million AAV of Willis' deal and Tagovailoa's dead money, the Dolphins will be spending $149.2 million at QB the next two years.
There is some nuance to that number, but it's still a lot of money to spend on one position for just two years. And there's no guarantee Willis works out either.
More: Dolphins agree to $67.5 million deal with Malik Willis
He's only made a few starts and relief appearances the last few years, and overall, is the biggest boom-bust free agent this offseason. Among QB's, there wasn't a higher floor and lower ceiling player in the league.
"But if he ends up walking the Justin Fields road, this will be a big miss, and the team will be looking for a QB again in a year or two," Okada writes.
Fields was a disaster for the Jets in 2025, and Okada is fearful Willis could follow a similar path for the Dolphins in 2026.
But that's the nature of this Willis signing. It's a massive risk. But the ceiling of this addition is so high, in a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who's incredibly entertaining to watch, that this is a risk worth taking for the Dolphins.
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