Travis Hunter Headlines Dolphins Move as Malik Willis Gets 3-Year Deal
travis hunter is the headline attached to a Dolphins move that gave Malik Willis a three-year contract and drew a strong endorsement from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Miami has added a quarterback who can change how defenses line up, and the new staff is already talking about how to fit him into the offense.
Malik Willis And Slowik
Slowik said Tuesday that Willis adds an extra dimension. He described the 26-year-old quarterback as someone who can “spin the ball all over the field, can throw the ball everywhere, can run, obviously, can use his legs.”
He also pointed to the energy Willis brings to the room. “The person is really fun to be around. He's really energetic. He infuses everybody with a lot of energy,” Slowik said.
That praise landed after Miami signed Willis to a three-year contract, giving the quarterback a clear place in a rebuild mode under a new staff. Jeff Hafley promoted Slowik from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator after taking over the Dolphins, and the next layer of the offense is already taking shape around personnel that can add different stress points for defenses.
Miami's Quarterback Run Plan
Slowik said the offense is expected to keep a Shanahan-tree structure with a few more quarterback runs sprinkled in. He said the threat of a quarterback run changes the math for a defense.
“I'd say anytime you have a quarterback who has the ability to run, it's not something that you are going to do down-in, down-out in the NFL, but the threat of it makes it 11 versus 11, as opposed to 11 on 10,” he said.
He added that mobility in the league shows up more in off-schedule situations than in constant designed quarterback runs. That leaves Willis in a role that can widen the offense without forcing it into a different identity, which is where Miami appears headed under the new staff.
Jeff Hafley’s Staff Shift
The Dolphins’ staff change came first, and the Willis signing followed. Hafley’s promotion of Slowik created the setting for a new offense, and the quarterback addition gives that plan a specific player to build around.
Willis had previously flashed in a backup role in Green Bay, and Miami is now betting that those traits translate into a bigger opportunity. If the offense does add more quarterback runs, Willis is the player most likely to make that wrinkle matter.
For Miami, the move is less about a headline and more about how fast the new offense can settle on its quarterback usage. Willis arrives with a three-year contract, a clear athletic profile, and a coach already talking about what he can do when the play breaks down.
