Dolphins just paid millions for a mistake Jets fans know too well

The 2026 offseason was always going to feature a league-wide game of quarterback musical chairs, and the Miami Dolphins ended up making the first move.

Arguably the most sought-after trigger man on the market, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis, was the first domino to fall. The 2022 third-round pick agreed to terms with Miami on a three-year, $67.5 million contract, likely the highest-paying deal for a QB in free agency this spring.

The New York Jets, if you haven't already heard, are also in the market for a quarterback. Willis wasn't really on the Jets' radar, and it was for several reasons.

New York needs to win now and is looking for a more experienced signal caller to lead their offense in 2026. There could also be some scar tissue from the Jets' most recent quarterback signing.

Malik Willis signing eerily reminiscent of Jets' Justin Fields experiment

Last offseason, the Jets took a gamble on an athletically gifted, high-character, young quarterback, inking former Chicago Bears first-round pick Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract. Almost exactly a year later, New York is trying to figure out which way they would like to get out from under his remaining guaranteed money.

Fields was an abject disaster in 2025, displaying a hyper-conservative play style that had fans questioning if he was scared to throw the football. In nine starts, Fields threw for 1,259 yards, for an average of 139.9 yards per game.

It was the lowest for any starting quarterback with that many starts since... Fields with the Bears in 2022. Go figure.

Now, all this isn't to say Willis will turn out the same way Fields did. There's a much smaller sample size for the former Liberty product, but he certainly impressed over the four appearances in relief of the injured Jordan Love.

Willis completed 30 of 35 pass attempts for 422 yards and three touchdowns, chipping in 22 carries for 123 yards and two rushing touchdowns. With only six career starts under his belt, there's no telling how he'll turn out as the full-time starter in Miami.

But a gamble is a gamble, nonetheless and the fact of the matter is the Dolphins are putting their 2026 season in the hands of Willis, similar to what the Jets did with Fields last year.

We'll see if it pays off.