SI.com Picks Vikings QB1 for 2026
The Minnesota Vikings have about two dozen quarterback options this offseason, as the franchise publicly declared last month that it will seek a “deep quarterback room” in 2026. And according to SI.com, the proper path is the free-agent acquisition of Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis’s small-sample surge in Green Bay has people talking, and it could put Minnesota in the mix if the price stays sane.
The strong-armed passer revitalized his career in Green Bay, and he’s poised to cash in next month in free agency.
Willis Buzz Grows after 2025 Efficiency Spike
If you’re a Willis enthusiast, SI.com has you covered from a Vikings perspective.
SI.com: Vikings Should Sign Willis
Gilberto Manzano sized up one offseason move apiece for each NFC North team, and regarding the Vikings, that’s a Willis signing.
He explained, “Sign QB Malik Willis. It might be tough for them to splurge for Love’s backup, perhaps making Willis available at the start of free agency. Coach Kevin O’Connell can’t hand McCarthy the starting job again unless he proves it by beating out real competition in training camp.”
“Willis, a 2022 third-round pick, showed vast improvement in the games he appeared last season for Green Bay and his determination to make the most of his latest opportunity after how poorly it went for him in Tennessee could bring out the best in McCarthy in a fierce summer battle. It was a small sample size, but Willis completed 85.7% of his passes in four games last year.”
McCarthy and Willis would then have a true summer battle to determine the QB1.
Manzano continued, “For comparison, McCarthy struggled by completing only 57.6% of his passes in 10 starts. Willis could have other options and maybe an easier path to a starting job, but not many teams can offer a wide receiver as good as Justin Jefferson.”
“The Vikings have no reason to commit to McCarthy’s first-round status after the team fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There’s no more time to waste in Minnesota after the disastrous quarterback results in 2025.”
The Single Game That Changed It All
In a December home loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Willis fired up 3 total touchdowns, no interceptions, 288 passing yards, and 60 with his legs. The game changed his career, as it alone probably fetched his upcoming free-agent contract. He proved that a reclamation story could be on the way. The man just needs a starting job to prove his mettle.
Despite a small sample size of only 58 dropbacks in 2025, Willis surprisingly led all quarterbacks in EPA+CPOE, demonstrating high efficiency despite low volume. His footwork appeared more refined, his timing sharper, and he threw with greater conviction — improvements that suggest dedicated work behind the scenes and the right setup in Green Bay.
Now, he needs a genuine opportunity: reps throughout July and August and a chance to compete for a starting role. Minnesota is an appealing destination, purely from a competition perspective.
Financially, the move is sound. An annual salary in the $15–25 million range is reasonable in the current quarterback market. Moreover, acquiring him wouldn’t require surrendering draft picks or future assets, and the contract wouldn’t become a burdensome, multi-year commitment if he doesn’t pan out.
He represents a unique option: a quarterback with legitimate QB1 potential who can be acquired without sacrificing any trade capital.
Difference of Opinion on Price
Willis’s price tag is difficult to gauge. No one can quite figure it out.
Because of the precedent set by Baker Mayfield in 2023 and Sam Darnold in 2025, Willis should probably earn a new deal with the aforementioned $15–25 million to “prove it.” He’s never succeeded as a long-term starter anywhere, and handing him a fat bag of cash is risky.
But some websites, like Spotrac, have tossed $15-25 million all the way out the window. That source claims Willis is worth a whopping $35.5 million per season, meaning his next squad could ink a deal worth $107 million over the next three seasons.
Many quarterback-needy teams don’t have $35.5 million lying around; $20 million for a quarterback prove-it deal is manageable. Tipping the scales at $35 million or $36 million is borderline outrageous.
Vikings Not Alone for Willis Suitors
If Manzano is wrong and Willis does not land in Minnesota, he’ll still have plenty of suitors. A list might look like this:
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns
- Indianapolis Colts
- Atlanta Falcons
Dolphins Wire‘s Adam Stites recently opined on Willis to Miami, “The Dolphins’ plan at quarterback isn’t clear, but splitting with Tua Tagovailoa appears to be a foregone conclusion.
“That’ll leave the team with Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller, a pair of young passers who have potential but probably aren’t close to being full-time NFL starters. So that leaves the Dolphins on the hunt for at least one more quarterback with neither a top 10 pick nor a ton of salary cap space at their disposal.”
It’s worth noting that Tagovailoa will have to land somewhere, too, and he’ll have a robust free-agent market if the Dolphins release him.
Stites added, “With a weak draft class at the position, Miami will probably need to find the money to wade into the free agency pool. And it’s hard to find a better, or more logical option than Willis who would be reunited with new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, who both worked in Green Bay before taking over in Miami.”
Willis will turn 27 in May.
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