This offseason has been a hectic one for the Miami Dolphins. The majority of their moves have been departures, whether it's been trades or releases.
However, they did make one high-profile addition this offseason, as they signed former Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract.
That move, according to Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com, is one of the top-10 moves of the NFL offseason. But why? Chadiha revealed a few key reasons why, leading with the difference between Willis and Tua Tagovailoa.
Why Malik Willis is a top-10 roster move this offseason
"Yes, this feels like a roll of the dice, given how little Willis has played in his career," Chadiha writes. "It also feels like a much smarter play to give him a three-year deal that averages $22.5 million annually than to stick with the idea that Tua Tagovailoa could ever contribute like a $50 million-plus-per-year QB."
While the Dolphins are still on the hook for $99.2 million in dead cap space over the next two seasons with Tagovailoa's contract, his time in Miami had run out.
There wasn't anything more that Tagovailoa could do on the field to convince the Dolphins he was worth investing in. They needed to add a new face at the quarterback position, and Willis, a high-upside option, makes a ton of sense.
Of course, spending over half of the cap space on players no longer on the roster isn't exactly ideal. But, turning to Willis, someone with a very high ceiling and low floor, is the perfect option to turn to with this roster.
More: Dolphins agree to $67.5 million deal with Malik Willis
Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan were with Willis in Green Bay, and if they're willing to spend a big to bring this dual-threat QB in, it's worth getting excited over. They wouldn't make this signing if there wasn't confidence Willis could be good.
And besides, this roster move for the Dolphins isn't necessarily about the 2026 NFL season. Willis will be around in 2027 as well, and if he doesn't pan out by then, the Dolphins are well set up to reshuffle the roster.
As Chadiha writes, "this is a win if Miami's brain trust can fill more holes around him in the future." Combined with no longer stagnating with Tagovailoa starting, this Willis signing allows for some high upside to come to Miami in a welcome change of pace.
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