Malik Willis Free Agency: QB Joins Vikings on $20M Deal After 86.3 QBR Season

Malik Willis free agency projections place the quarterback in Minnesota on a one-year, $20 million fully guaranteed contract following his 79% completion rate in Green Bay.

Malik Willis free agency simulations concluded with the 26-year-old quarterback accepting a one-year, $20 million fully guaranteed contract from the Minnesota Vikings. Despite higher monetary offers from the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, Willis opted for the Vikings' system to play under coach Kevin O'Connell and throw to wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Willis enters the market following a 2025 campaign where he recorded 422 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, alongside 123 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. His efficiency metrics in Green Bay were historic; he posted a 79% completion rate (70-of-89) and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt, significantly outpacing Lamar Jackson’s 8.7 yards in the same category.

During his tenure with the Packers, Willis appeared in 11 games and demonstrated elite mobility with 42 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns. His 6.2 yards-per-rush average ranks fourth among passers with at least 100 dropbacks, trailing only Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Spencer Rattler. Analytics provided by Ben Solak highlight Willis as a premier dual-threat, leading all quarterbacks with a 13% scramble rate and an 11.8% explosive run rate. His 86.3 total QBR stands nearly 17 points higher than the second-place mark of 69.9 held by Jackson. This efficiency represents a massive leap from his initial three starts with the Tennessee Titans, where he averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, threw three interceptions with zero touchdowns, and was sacked 10 times.

Contract Offers from Arizona and New York

The Arizona Cardinals, led by GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Mike LaFleur, submitted a two-year, $33 million proposal. This deal featured a $19 million signing bonus and was designed to fill the void expected after the release of Kyler Murray in mid-March. Ossenfort previously worked with Willis in Tennessee during the 2022 season, while LaFleur’s brother, Matt, coached the quarterback in Green Bay. Despite the familiarity and the $16.5 million annual average, Willis’ representative, Dan Graziano, declined the offer to avoid the risk of being underpaid in 2027 if Willis performed at an elite level.

Rich Cimini, acting as the New York Jets GM, offered a more lucrative two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million in total guarantees. The structure included a $15 million signing bonus and a $5 million guaranteed base salary for the first year. In the second year, $10 million of the $20 million base salary would be guaranteed. This offer mirrored the deal Justin Fields received previously. The Jets viewed Willis as a high-upside bridge to the 2027 draft, where they hold three first-round picks. However, the potential for the team to terminate the contract after one season made the one-year Minnesota deal more attractive for Willis’ long-term earning potential.

Teams Declining the Malik Willis Market

Several franchises opted out of the Malik Willis free agency sweepstakes due to financial constraints and roster priorities. The Cleveland Browns, under GM Andrew Berry and coach Todd Monken, expressed interest in Willis’ mobility but prioritized investing resources into their offensive line. With Deshaun Watson scheduled to earn a $46 million salary, Cleveland lacked the appetite for Willis’ $20-$30 million per year price tag. Monken, who inherited three quarterbacks, has not yet committed to a starter for the upcoming season.

The Miami Dolphins also passed on negotiations despite connections between Willis and new staffers Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley. Miami faces a difficult salary cap situation with approximately 30 of their own free agents to address. Sullivan indicated the team would not be big spenders this cycle, preferring structural roster moves over a high-priced quarterback acquisition. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Steelers declined to bid, citing a preference not to spend heavily on a player with only six career starts. The Steelers previously passed on a two-year, $40 million deal for Justin Fields, and reporter Brooke Pryor noted the team was unlikely to commit similar funds to Willis even with Mike McCarthy’s developmental track record.

Strategic Fit in Minnesota

By joining the Vikings, Willis enters a summerlong competition for the starting role against J.J. McCarthy. While Minnesota’s $20 million offer was the lowest in total value among the three finalists, the fully guaranteed nature of the one-year pact provides immediate security. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and O’Connell’s downfield passing offense are expected to maximize Willis’ 9.2 yards per dropback efficiency. For a player with only 155 career pass attempts, the opportunity to produce a high-volume statistical season in 2026 is viewed as the fastest path to a massive contract in the 2027 free agent cycle. Willis, currently ranked No. 14 on Matt Bowen’s free agency list, enters the legal negotiating window on Monday as the market's primary wild card.