Top 3 free agent destinations for Malik Willis after promising 2025 season

Free agent quarterbacks have become increasingly important in recent years, as mid-tier quarterbacks have found success elsewhere after moving to new teams in the offseason. Of course, it’s very rare to see a true star quarterback hit the open market, but plenty of teams have found quality starters on the free agent market lately.

The clearest example of that is what the Seattle Seahawks did with Sam Darnold. In 2025, Seattle traded Geno Smith and signed Darnold to a three-year contract. In the first year of his contract, Darnold led the Seahawks to a 14-3 regular season and a Super Bowl victory.

Outside of Darnold, there are other success stories around the league. Daniel Jones led an elite offense with the Indianapolis Colts before tearing his Achilles last season. The Buccaneers also got perennial utility play from Baker Mayfield in his fourth team. Smith, even before being traded from Seattle, was a quality starter in 2023 and 2024 before falling apart in Las Vegas last fall.

Despite not being a full-time starter in 2025. former Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis is the best name available in the quarterback market this offseason. Jones is also available but is coming off an injury and appears to want to return to the Colts.

Willis could be in line for a big payday as a result of the market and several promising starts in Green Bay over the past few seasons while Jordan Love has been sidelined. What are some landing spots that make sense for a young caller?

The Dolphins will be the obvious landing spot for Willis as Miami moves on from Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. The Dolphins could choose to go with Quinn Evers next season after he finishes his rookie year as the starter, but there’s a chance new head coach Jeff Hafley would prefer to have a veteran quarterback for his first season on the job.

Of course, Hafley just worked with Willis when he was the defensive coordinator in Green Bay, so he’s all too familiar with what the former third-round pick can do. The Dolphins will have money to spend assuming they move on from Tagovailoa this offseason, and Willis seems like he would be at the top of the list given the market and his ties to Hafley from the past two seasons.

The Cardinals are another team facing a setback at starting quarterback after Kyler Murray was replaced by Jacoby Brissett and missed most of the 2025 season with a foot injury. Murray is on a big contract and looks like a prime trade candidate this offseason, especially with a new staff, so there’s a good chance the Cardinals will be looking for a new starter next season.

New head coach Mike LaFleur comes over from Sean McVay’s Rams and is the brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, so Willis has ties to this coaching staff as well. LaFleurs and McVay all have similar offenses, so there would be some familiarity if Willis ends up there.

Arizona is in prime position to bolster its offensive line in the NFL Draft and has a promising group of pass catchers already on the team in Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. That, combined with a player who is likely to bring some innovative ideas to the table, would be a good place for Willis to be a full-time starter.

The Browns entered the 2025 season with a complete mess at quarterback, and are leaving that campaign without a long-term answer at the position. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett were both traded, Deshaun Watson never returned from his torn Achilles, and Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders look far from ready to be NFL starters.

With Kevin Stefanski out and Todd Monken as the new coach in Cleveland, the Browns could be looking for another outside answer at quarterback heading into next season. Monken coached Lamar Jackson in Baltimore the last few seasons, and while Willis isn’t nearly the talent Jackson is, there are some stylistic similarities that could make him an intriguing fit for the Browns.

Cleveland’s offensive line situation could be a deterrent, as Willis hasn’t had to play behind a bad offensive line since his days in Tennessee, which didn’t go well. However, or a franchise in desperate need of life heading into a new era in 2026, Willis might be the best option with a weak quarterback draft class.