Malik Willis' eye-opening price tag should give QB-needy teams pause

Not all of that is Willis' fault. The Tennessee Titans gave him few opportunities before trading him to the Packers in 2024. The former Liberty Flames star started just three games in two seasons with the Titans, going 1-2. 

In two seasons with Green Bay, Willis has flashed promise when filling in for Jordan Love. The QB has played 11 games for the Packers, completing 70-of-89 passes (78.7%, well above the league average) for 972 yards and six touchdown passes. He has also rushed for 261 yards and three TDs on 42 carries. 

But the Packers — who have won four Super Bowls — are an elite organization, and so is Seattle, which has hoisted two Lombardi Trophies since 2010. 

Willis may not land with such a team in free agency. Potential landing spots for the QB include the Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals. Miami went 7-10 in 2025, while Arizona went 3-14. 

Both have new HCs. This offseason, Miami fired Mike McDaniel and replaced him with Jeff Hafley. Arizona, meanwhile, hired Mike LaFleur after canning Jonathan Gannon. Neither may be in a position to immediately rebuild their clubs, which are expected to move on from their QBs. 

The Dolphins seem poised to release or trade QB Tua Tagovailoa, and the Cardinals could do the same with QB Kyler Murray. The Dolphins would incur $67.4M in dead cap if they release Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, while such a move with Murray would result in $47.5M in dead cap for the Cardinals (via Over the Cap). 

Considering that, why would either franchise overpay for another QB, especially when the 2027 NFL Draft looks strong at the position? Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning and Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore headline it. 

This doesn't mean teams should avoid Willis in free agency altogether. But they shouldn't cough up the big bucks just because they think he's the only appealing option on the market. Despite some upside, his small sample size doesn't merit the contract he may sign in free agency.