After the Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley as their new head coach, it might immediately affect the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only was Hafley a potential option for the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach vacancy, but he also has connections that could hurt them. Both Miami and Pittsburgh might be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, and it appears they could target the same free agent.
Hafley spent the past two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where the Steelers’ new head guy, Mike McCarthy, previously served as head coach from 2006 to 2018. Hafley is a young, up-and-coming coach, while McCarthy is viewed as a proven leader with a strong track record of developing quarterbacks.
It will be interesting to see what the Dolphins and the Steelers do this offseason to address the quarterback position.
Malik Willis might be one of the top free agents at his position this offseason. He is still young and has regained some notoriety around NFL circles after appearing in eight different starts over the past two campaigns. He shouldn't be envisioned as a franchise guy, but similar to Justin Fields last year. Neither should be expected to fix their issues, but they can compete for a starting job.
The Pittsburgh Steelers might not have a chance to go after free agent QB Malik Willis
Pittsburgh decided to select Kenny Pickett over Willis in the 2022 NFL Draft. It seemed like a mistake to some at the time, but that perception only grew. Willis went in the third round, while Pickett was over-drafted in the top round by the Steelers. Both are now backup-level players, but Willis continues to entice people with his throwing power and athleticism.
It could get him another shot as a starter.
We know that the Steelers held plenty of pre-draft interest in the Liberty Flame product. Many thought he would be their top pick that year, but they went in another direction. Now Willis has spent time on two different teams, the Tennessee Titans and the Packers. He hasn't done great as a season-long starter, but Pittsburgh might envision him changing his tune with McCarthy in the fold.
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The biggest challenge is determining how much the free-agent signal-caller will command on the open market and how much value he places on Hafley. Both have been with the Packers for the past two years, which immediately ties the two together as the Dolphins appear eager to move on from Tua Tagovailoa.
It would make sense for Willis to serve as a one-year stopgap for Miami if the team moves on from Tua.
There is a reason to believe that the Steelers will show interest in Willis if he hits the open market and they don't bring back Aaron Rodgers. He is a young guy who can compete to be the starter and develop if McCarthy lives up to his billing.
At the end of the day, Miami appears to be the favorite to land the young free agent. The Steelers might have to prepare a backup plan in this scenario.