Each offseason, NFL teams take swings on big-ticket free agents.
Some are successful, while others end up with buyer's remorse.
Ahead of training camp, which is less than three weeks away, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicted each team's biggest free-agent bust for 2026, and Malik Willis was his choice for the Miami Dolphins.
“Malik Willis isn't set up to flourish on a rebuilding squad with arguably the league's worst pass-catching group,” Moton wrote. “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.”
Dolphins' roster overall is by design
After releasing several veterans, including Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill, and trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, the Dolphins arguably have the league's worst offensive supporting cast. That’s by design after Miami underwent a massive roster and salary-cap reset led by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins wanted to clear cap space while also developing a younger core.
The problem is that Willis will need to elevate a receiving corps that lacks significant experience. Third-year player Malik Washington is the Dolphins’ leading returning wide receiver.
Last season, Washington recorded 46 catches for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Now, he will not only take on an expanded role but also help replace the production lost following Hill's release and Waddle's departure.
Malik Willis lacks experience but has high-level potential
Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
Then there's the fact that Willis doesn't have much starting experience. He has started just six games in four NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers.
His career has been a mixed bag.
With the Titans, Willis struggled to get the ball out quickly, often holding it too long in the pocket while relying heavily on his athleticism. During his two seasons in Tennessee, he threw for 350 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 53% of his passes.
After being traded to the Packers in 2024, Willis revived his career. He looked much more polished as a passer in limited action, throwing for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in 11 games (three starts).
Willis is by far the Dolphins player under the most pressure to succeed in 2026. If he doesn't, Miami could not only end up with the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft but also be in the market for Willis' replacement if he fails to live up to expectations.
