The 2025 season proved disastrous and deeply frustrating for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, for Dolphins fans, and, of course, for the coaching staff and general management. The situation deteriorated to such an extent that he ultimately had to be benched.
Against this backdrop, with Ewers also failing to establish himself as a reliable option and with limited chances of acquiring a new passer capable of delivering immediate results, the Dolphins could turn to free agency to address that crucial position.
For that reason, the front office of the South Florida organization has already begun making moves in search of Tua’s ideal replacement, casting its gaze northward, specifically toward Green Bay.
Malik Willis could arrive in Miami
Quarterback Malik Willis is a player well known to the Dolphins’ general manager and coaching staff, placing his potential arrival firmly on the franchise’s radar ahead of the 2026 season.
However, the move would be far from simple for Miami. According to Gregg Rosenthal and his list published on NFL.com, Willis ranks as the No. 1 prospect in free agency.
I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur. Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof.
Wrote Rosenthal
Although Miami may hold a certain level of appeal for the signal-caller, another obstacle looms large: it remains unclear whether the franchise possesses the necessary salary cap flexibility to offer him a competitive contract and secure his services.
According to projections regarding Willis, he could command approximately $40 million over two years. Other estimates suggest he may fall within the $30-$35 million per year range.
The situation grows even more complicated considering that Tua is due $56 million this year, making it financially challenging to carve out sufficient space to add Malik to the roster.
The ties between the Dolphins’ front office, new head coach, and Malik Willis
The Dolphins’ new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and new head coach, Jeff Hafley, both come from the Packers organization, meaning they are intimately familiar with the prospect they are pursuing. That relationship could prove instrumental in facilitating his arrival.
That is not all, however. Also within the organization is Jon Robinson, who previously served as general manager of the Tennessee Titans before joining the Dolphins as senior personnel executive.
Good arm, athletic and moves around well. He’s got a really good skill set and throws a good ball. He’s tough to tackle but he’s got a lot of work to do like all of the rookies do.
That is how Robinson spoke about Willis in the past.
At this moment, the reality is that South Florida is struggling intensely to find a suitable player capable of making Tua a distant memory, as Quinn Ewers has yet to emerge as the franchise savior they desperately need.
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