Malik Willis Contract agreement gives Dolphins a new QB before free agency opens
Miami has agreed to terms with quarterback Malik Willis on a three-year, $67. 5 million deal with $45 million guaranteed. The move landed within hours of the team’s Monday morning announcement that it will release Tua Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year, a rapid one-two that accelerated the Dolphins’ quarterback transition during the early tampering window; the malik willis contract is now the centerpiece of that shift.
Miami Dolphins move fast after Tua Tagovailoa release plan
On Monday morning, the Dolphins announced they will be releasing Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year. Just hours later, the team appeared to have a new starter lined up, reaching an agreement with Willis on a multiyear contract structure that includes $45 million guaranteed and totals $67. 5 million over three years.
Malik Willis Contract terms land ahead of March 11 free agency start
The timing is tied to the calendar: free agency is set to begin on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p. m. ET, and Willis entered this cycle as a market-bound quarterback because his rookie contract had run out. That deadline placed quarterback decisions on a fast track, and Miami’s agreement positions Willis at the top of its depth chart plan before the broader market officially opens.
Green Bay stint shapes Willis profile as Dolphins target a starter
Willis spent the past two seasons in Green Bay as the backup to Jordan Love, where he posted a 134. 6 passer rating while completing 78. 7 percent of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also ran for 241 yards on 42 carries, averaging 6. 2 yards per attempt, and added three rushing scores. That production stands in contrast to his earlier run in Tennessee, where he compiled a 49. 4 passer rating with a 53 percent completion rate and a 0: 3 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 11 games over two seasons.
The next milestone arrives when free agency opens on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p. m. ET, the point when contracts across the league can be formally processed under the new league year. If Miami follows through on its stated plan, Tagovailoa’s release would take effect after the start of the new league year, leaving Willis as the quarterback addition the Dolphins already have in place.