The Packers expect to see Malik Willis depart in free agency next month. His destination will remain unclear in the meanwhile, but a listing of suitors to look at has emerged.
At the very least 4 teams are considered prone to make a proposal in Willis’ case, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports. The Steelers are amongst them. La Canfora adds the Browns and Dolphins are viewed as being “particularly keen” in Willis’ case, making them logical candidates to make a free agent push.
Willis has spent the past two years as a backup to Jordan Love in Green Bay. During limited motion filling in because the team’s starter, the previous third-round pick has flashed enough potential to generate notable interest. The 2026 quarterback market shouldn’t be on course to incorporate many options seen as containing much in the way in which of upside. Willis represents an exception, and a bidding war could land him a starting gig ahead of next season.
The Dolphins have plenty of ex-Packers staffers within the fold. That features latest general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The latter holds Willis in high regard, per the report. That might make a notable Dolphins pursuit unsurprising, although the team also has the matter of Tua Tagovailoa and his contract to take care of. Trading Tagovailoa shall be a goal for Miami this offseason, and retaining money to facilitate a deal could also be on the table. An economical alternative – especially one familiar to the Dolphins’ latest decision-makers – would in fact be attractive.
Pittsburgh inked Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal last offseason. Connections between the 2 parties resulted in a long-running period before an agreement was ultimately reached. Moving on to Will Howard or an alternative choice could happen in 2026, however the Steelers expressed a willingness to retain Rodgers even before Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach. A QB-HC reunion dating back to the time each shared in Green Bay stays a definite possibility.
An agent who spoke with La Canfora pointed to Cleveland because the team which could find yourself in pole position to land Willis. 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are still within the fold after each saw time atop the depth chart as rookies. Deshaun Watson is prone to be healthy by the beginning of next season, and he could compete for the QB1 gig. More competition could nevertheless be brought in, something which could point the Browns within the direction of a Willis signing.
One GM predicted Willis, 26, will ultimately land a contract just like the one Justin Fields signed last spring. Upon joining the Jets, Fields secured a two-year, $40MM pact with $30MM guaranteed. Any pact near that one would represent a significant raise relative to Willis’ rookie contract. Especially if multiple teams find themselves competing for his services, a multi-year contract could soon be in store.