Malik Willis spun two years as a backup for the Green Bay Packers into offseason gold, landing the Dolphins' starting job on a three-year, $67.5 million contract. With his new role and salary tier comes greater responsibility, like getting on the same page with unfamiliar receivers and figuring out who his go-to targets are. Right now, that's still a work in progress, writes ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Now that Willis has had a chance to learn the playbook and settle into a foreign environment, establishing that connection, making the most of limited weapons on Miami's roster, may be his greatest challenge. It's also one he never really faced with the Packers.
In Green Bay, Willis benefited from a deep receiver room whenever he stepped in for Jordan Love. All in all that only amounted to three starts and 11 appearances, but you'd never know Willis wasn't QB1 by watching him hook up with Packers receivers.Â
Malik Willis is facing a whole new challenge in Miami
He won't have the same familiar, highly talented stable of pass-catchers with the Dolphins. Willis will have to make do with a receiver corps led by Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and third-round rookie Chris Bell, who is coming off ACL surgery.Â
Those are fine young players, but none were particularly productive last season. Washington led the group with 317 receiving yards on just 6.9 yards per catch. Earlier this offseason, the team parted ways with Willis' would-be WR1 and WR2 in Jalen Waddle (via trade) and Tyreek Hill (released). It's entirely possible that running back De'Von Achane is the roster's leading receiver.
Willis' longest completion of OTAs went to tight end Ben Sims, notes Louis-Jacques, indicative of the quarterback's still-developing relationship with his wideouts. In Green Bay, Willis had Christian Watson, when healthy, plus Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, among others. He also had tight end Tucker Kraft. No one in Miami's tight end room really stands out.Â
Willis knew what he was getting into when he inked a contract with an organization firmly committed to a rebuild. He might not have known he would also be without Waddle, who was traded after Willis signed. He can only use the weapons in front of him.Â
Willis' talent and athleticism should help him through the learning curve. His legs, in particular, will allow him to escape and make plays when nothing is open downfield.Â
In the meantime, he still has training camp and the preseason to work with his hodgepodge collage of pass-catchers. The advantage of joining a bad team is that there is no pressure to succeed immediately. For the Packers, every week feels like a must-win affair. Lose, and you're going to hear it from the media and fans. Fair or not, starter or backup.
Willis' learning process in a new environment, with new teammates, could extend well into the season. It would be strange if it didn't, and, for the Dolphins' purposes, that's just fine.Â
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