Malik Willis free agency: Top 5 landing spots for the QB, by fit

The 2026 NFL offseason gets into swing this week with the annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

As is often the case, one of the major storylines is the quarterback position. However, the story there is the relative lack of options at the top of the draft for several QB-needy teams. Fernando Mendoza is largely expected to be the first player selected, by the Las Vegas Raiders, but teams that need a quarterback at the top of the draft — the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, and the Arizona Cardinals to name a few — might have wait in the draft, or to look elsewhere to address the position.

Like free agency.

That could be huge for Malik Willis.

The former third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans flashed in limited action last season, and his play in relief of Jordan Love has many believing he is the best option in free agency for teams that need a new starting quarterback. For example, Gregg Rosenthal released his top 101 NFL free agents on Monday, and leading the way?

None other than Willis.

Where could he land? Let’s rank five potential landing spots by the best fit.

5. Cleveland Browns

According to several reports, the Cleveland Browns are expected to make a push for Willis in free agency. This, despite drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders a season ago, and the fact that because of his contract, Deshaun Watson is going to be on the roster for perhaps another season.

There is one big reason a move for Willis could work: The presence of Todd Monken. Bringing in Willis to play for an offensive-minded head coach, one who is coming off years of work with Lamar Jackson, seems like a perfect pairing.

The problem? The financials. Right now Cleveland has just over $3 million in cap space — and is over the cap in terms of “effective cap space” according to Over the Cap — and with Willis expected to command north of $30 million per year in free agency, the numbers seem difficult to swallow for Browns fans.

And those number might make such a pairing next to impossible.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

New head coach Mike McCarthy has a few items on his “to-do” list as he takes over in Pittsburgh.

Figuring out the quarterback position might be at the top of that list.

Certainly, there is the Aaron Rodgers question, which will factor into how McCarthy handles the position. There is also the presence of Will Howard, Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick last draft. But could Willis be the best option for Pittsburgh?

They have room under the cap — the Steelers have almost $40 million in effective cap space — and two prominent analysts believe Pittsburgh is the ideal destination for Willis:

The one hang-up? The scheme fit between McCarthy and Willis. But as noted by Mina Kimes, the pairing of DK Metcalf and Willis certainly is a push towards a more vertical passing game, and if McCarthy wants to take his offense in more of a vertical direction, that would be an ideal pairing.

3. New York Jets

Most seasons, a team sitting with the No. 2 pick in the draft could find a quarterback.

However, the 2026 NFL Draft is not that kind of season.

After Mendoza, there are more questions than answers in this quarterback class. Ty Simpson has emerged as the consensus QB2, but the second-overall pick might be too early for him, given the talent available at other positions. For example, our most recent NFL mock draft has the Jets selecting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at that spot.

While the Jets have a second first-round selection, pick No. 16, that may still be too early for Simpson.

That could push New York into the free agency market, and with nearly $80 million available in cap space, the Jets are one of the teams that could certainly afford Willis, even if he commands as big a contract as Spotrac projects.

ESPN’s Ben Solak made a case for Willis to the Jets on The Rich Eisen Show Monday.

“I think the Jets. We know that Aaron Glenn likes mobile quarterbacks. They have Justin Fields on their veteran deal, I think you can sign Malik Willis for roughly the same deal, probably a little bit more,” Solak explained to Eisen.

However, there is the Frank Reich factor. New York’s new offensive coordinator comes from the West Coast philosophical tree, and his passing game is focused on the short- and intermediate-areas of the field. Willis projects best to a vertical passing offense. While this is not a complete bar to such a move, it would require either Reich to tweak his offense — and after all, the job of a coach is to tailor your system to what your players do well — or Willis to improve in certain areas.

2. Arizona Cardinals

As the Scouting Combine begins, several reports indicate that the Arizona Cardinals are going to move on from Kyler Murray. According to Jason La Canfora, the Cardinals are hoping to move Murray in a trade, despite the $50 million guarantee he is due this season.

Jacoby Brissett, who played well after taking over for Murray last season, could be a bridge option for Arizona to the 2027 NFL Draft. But there are reasons to think that Willis could be an answer in the desert.

One such reason? The new head coach. Mike LaFleur takes over in Arizona after the team parted ways with Jonathan Gannon, and he could be a good fit for Willis. After all, the past few seasons in Green Bay, Willis was playing for Matt LaFleur. In fact, one analyst believes the Cardinals are the favorites to sign the free agent QB:

Arizona has almost $40 million available in free agency, so the financials could work.

1. Miami Dolphins

There is a new regime in place down in South Beach.

One that is very familiar with Willis.

First there is new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Sullivan was formerly the vice president of player personnel for the Packers, part of the team that brought Willis to Green Bay in the first place. Sullivan worked his way up the ranks in Green Bay, starting out as a training camp intern back in 2003.

Then there is the new Miami head coach, Jeff Hafley. The past few seasons he was the defensive coordinator in Green Bay, and got a first-hand look at Willis often in practice.

The financials will be difficult to navigate. The Dolphins have just $3 million in available cap space, and that is after some cost-cutting moves already made by the team. But a lot of that money is tied to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is expected to be on his way out in Miami.

If the Dolphins can make the financials work, they look like the best landing spot for Willis.