Out goes Tua, in comes Malik.
The Miami Dolphins are signing quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract that includes $45 million fully guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of the situation.
Willis' deal a $22.5 million signing bonus, $1.25 million fully guaranteed in 2026 and $21.5 million fully guaranteed in 2027, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero added.
The Dolphins parted ways with Tua Tagovailoa earlier Monday, eating roughly $99 million in dead money -- spread over two years using the June 1-release mechanism -- paving the way to bring in Willis.
The deal cannot become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.
It's a significant gamble by the new Dolphins brass, but general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley are the most plugged-in on Willis, having spent the past two seasons with the QB in Green Bay. If anyone in the market for a QB knows Willis' strengths and weaknesses, it's the duo in South Beach.
A third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Willis struggled mightily in his two seasons in Nashville. In three starts, he was scattershot, struggled to read defenses or move the offense. The move to Green Bay, under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur, offered a much-needed reset. Willis looked like a different QB with the Cheeseheads.
In a friendly offense, Willis was accurate with the ball, knew where to go with it, and got the pigskin out quickly. Add in dynamic rushing ability, and he moved the offense well in his 11 appearances, including three starts, with the Packers.
The talent is there, but he's still very much unpolished. He took very few simple drop-back looks with LaFleur leaning on RPOs for a bulk of the offense plan in Willis' spot duty. How Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik devise the game plan will be key to developing Willis and getting him to the next level.
The money isn't over the top for a starting QB, coming in at $22.5 million per year, but for a team up against the salary cap, necessitating shedding veterans, it's significant and slightly more per year than the Jets paid Justin Fields last season.
