It’s a significant gamble by the new Dolphins brass, with general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley most closely associated with Willis, who spent the last two seasons at QB in Green Bay. If anyone in the market for a QB knows Willis’ strengths and weaknesses, it’s the South Beach duo.
A third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Willis struggled mightily in his two seasons in Nashville. In three starts, he was skittish, struggling 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 another QB with the Cheeseheads.
In a friendly break, Willis was precise with the ball, knew where to take it and got the pigskin quickly. Add in powerful running skills and he moved the offense well in his 11 games, including three starts, with the Packers.
The talent is there but he is still very unpolished. He took very few simple looks with LaFleur leaning on RPOs for the bulk of the offense in Willis’ spot duty. How Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik shape 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 salary cap-challenged team in need of veterans, it’s significant and slightly more per year than the Jets paid Justin Fields last season.