On the opening day of the free agency negotiation period, the Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract. Willis, a soon-to-be first-year starter, will have high expectations, and former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick made that clear.
Fitzpatrick Sets the Stage for Malik Willis Ahead of 2026
On Wednesday morning, two days after the Willis deal, Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth discussed the move on their podcast, Fitz and Whit. Fitzpatrick, having played 17 years in the NFL and two in Miami, had blunt words for the young signal-caller.
He stated, “He’s having to show off his leadership right away … Simple things like the cadence, the huddle procedure, the tempo, the urgency.”
Fitzpatrick closed by adding, “He’s gonna really have to set the tempo for who they are as an offense this season.”
Fitz reacts to the Dolphins signing Malik Willis 👀
“He’s having to show off his leadership right away … Simple things like the cadence, the huddle procedure, the tempo, the urgency. pic.twitter.com/gRW2sSG07I
— Fitz & Whit (@fitzandwhit) March 11, 2026
Since joining Green Bay in 2024, Willis has started in three games and posted a 2-1 record. He completed 79.6% of his passes for 612 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 26-year-old also added 174 yards and 3 scores on the ground, showing off his mobility.
Across those starts, Willis averaged an 84.0 QB score and recorded weekly finishes of 2, 3, and 7 according to PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metrics.
Comparatively, this past season, the Dolphins’ quarterback room seriously struggled. Tua Tagovailoa posted a 72.2 QB Impact score, placing 27th among all passers. Meanwhile, the offense as a whole finished with a 73.1 Impact Score, which ranked 19th among all units.
Simply put, the Dolphins needed a reset at the quarterback position, and they got exactly that with Willis. He’s only 26 years old, has a strong arm, has exceptional mobility, and has continued to improve every season.
Additionally, Willis is already extremely familiar with the Dolphins’ rookie head coach, Jeff Hafley, as the two worked together last year in Green Bay. Hafley formerly worked as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, leading them to the 17th-ranked defense according to PFSN. Notably, the unit performed at a much higher level before star pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending injury.
While it remains to be seen if Willis is a true leader, he’s still undeniably talented. Between Willis, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, and potentially a much-improved defense, the Dolphins will be a team to monitor next season as they attempt to make some noise in the AFC East.
If nothing else, it will be exciting to see a full season of Willis at the helm as he tries to set the tone for this Miami Dolphins offense.
