Malik Willis enters the 2026 NFL season facing renewed skepticism after a recent projection identified the former Green Bay Packers quarterback as the Miami Dolphins’ potential biggest disappointment. The prediction has raised concerns about whether Willis can capitalize on his latest opportunity despite showing encouraging development during his time in Green Bay.
Willis arrived in Miami looking to provide experienced depth behind Tua Tagovailoa while continuing to rebuild his career. His brief stint with the Packers helped reshape his reputation after an uneven start in Tennessee, as Matt LaFleur’s offensive system highlighted his mobility, decision-making and ability to manage games effectively. That improvement generated optimism that Willis could establish himself as one of the NFL’s more dependable backup quarterbacks.
The latest projection, however, suggests expectations surrounding Willis may exceed the role he is likely to play. As a reserve quarterback, opportunities to make a meaningful impact are often limited unless injuries force a change under center. If Tagovailoa remains healthy throughout the season, Willis could see very little playing time, making it difficult to justify offseason attention or significantly outperform outside expectations.
Questions also remain about Willis’ long-term development as a passer. Although his athleticism and running ability continue to stand out, evaluators believe he must become more consistent processing defenses and delivering accurate throws from the pocket. Those concerns have followed him since entering the league and continue to shape opinions about his overall ceiling despite the progress he has shown in recent seasons.
Former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis Predicted To Be a Bust in 2026
Willis is named as Miami’s bust candidate for the 2026 NFL season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Moe Moton for Bleacher Report.
Malik Willis isn’t set up to flourish on a rebuilding squad with arguably the league’s worst pass-catching group. The Miami Dolphins are heading into training camp with Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington and Tutu Atwell as their top three wideouts. None of the aforementioned receivers has caught more than 49 passes in a season.
According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Willis has built a rapport with Greg Dulcich. Yet if his top pass-catcher is a fifth-year tight end who had his best year as a rookie, that’s not a good sign.
Because of a below-average supporting cast, Willis will underperform on a three-year, $67.5 million deal.
Even so, many believe the criticism overlooks how much Willis matured during his time with the Packers. He demonstrated poise when called upon, protected the football and operated efficiently within the offense despite joining Green Bay shortly before the regular season. Those performances suggested he had taken meaningful steps forward, giving Miami reason to believe he can provide valuable insurance at one of the game’s most important positions.
Whether the prediction proves accurate will ultimately depend on circumstances beyond Willis’ control as much as his own performance. If called into action, the former Packers quarterback will have another opportunity to demonstrate that his growth in Green Bay was genuine and that he is capable of contributing whenever the Dolphins need him during the 2026 campaign.
