Dolphins Issued Warning After Decision to Sign $67 Million QB

Willis had the athleticism scouts loved, but the passing game needed work. Three starts with the Titans made that clear, and by 2024, he was traded to Green Bay. Now he is the quarterback Miami is building around, at least for now.

However, NFL reporter Matt Okada recently laid out why the big payday for Willis would be a risky move for the Dolphins.

"Among the 72 QBs with at least five starts since 2022, Willis ranks dead last in passing yards per game as a starter (141), while he ranks fourth-best in rushing yards per game as a starter (45)," Okada wrote. "If Miami can unlock Willis as the next dual-threat star, this will be a massive steal. 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."

The fit in Miami does make sense on paper. Willis has a direct connection to new head coach Jeff Hafley, who served as Green Bay's defensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik runs a system that tends to be built around a quarterback with a specific skill set.

The league has seen this kind of story play out before. Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones all found second acts after rough starts. Darnold just won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, which just adds some fuel to that conversation.

But Willis' situation is a little different. He was never given an extended opportunity early in his career, never carried the weight of being a high first-round pick.

Now he has one. Whether Miami gets its money's worth from that $67.5 million is the question the entire offseason will revolve around.