Miami Dolphins Need to be Adequate to Assess Malik Willis
- Sheehan Planas-Arteaga
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Is Malik Willis good? Maybe. But we won't know it if the 2026 Dolphins are as bad as they look.
The Miami Dolphins will not make the playoffs in the 2026 NFL season. Sports analysis is my passion, and after careful consideration of dozens of predictive models, I have come to the conclusion that the Dolphins will play 17, and only 17, games next season. You can reach me at thepeanutgallery99@gmail.com if you’d like to have me on the show, NFL Network.
Malik Willis to the Rescue?
The likely new starting quarterback for these lowly Dolphins will be Malik Willis, who was signed to a three-year, $67.5 million deal a few weeks ago. After an awful showing in Tennessee in limited playing time across two seasons, he was spectacular in Green Bay, also in limited playing time across two seasons. New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and new HC Jeff Hafley both come from the Packers, so their familiarity with Willis led to the Dolphins pulling the trigger on a new QB to lead Miami for the next few years.
Willis has talent, as he displayed when he got to fill in for Jordan Love. But the Packers are loaded, while the Dolphins get more depleted seemingly every day. I understand the organization is going for a complete reset and is trying to stockpile as many assets as they can, but in order to get a true assessment of their new QB, who is just 26, they need to provide some semblance of support for him.
Where They Stand
With the recent trade of Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, the Dolphins’ wide receiver room is currently led by Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington, and Tahj Washington. I don’t know what the worst crop of receivers ever trotted out by an NFL team is, but if this top-three remains on Week 1, it will be near the top of the list. Their running back group will be excellent, assuming they too don’t get traded away. Led by De’Von Achane, with Jalyen Wright and Ollie Gordon III providing the thunder to Achane’s lightning, this is far and away the brightest spot on this poopoo roster.
They might also be competing for the worst tight end group of all-time, if all stays the same. They’re working with Greg Dulcich, who will likely be the starter, and Ben Sims and Cole Turner, who are their only other tight ends who have caught a pass in an NFL game.
As is tradition, a key piece of the Dolphins offensive line missed significant time in 2025. In last season’s case, it was Austin Jackson and James Daniels. Daniels is gone, but Jackson remains and must be a solid contributor at RT for the speedy Achane to break off big runs to that side. The interior line will yet again be an issue, but for what it’s worth, Jonah Savaiinaea, cannot get any worse than he was in his rookie season last year. The only way to go is up for him, right? RIGHT???
The defense has remained largely the same, apart from the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Jets and the release of Bradley Chubb. The defensive line and linebacker core should still be an above average group, while the secondary will face a weekly air raid that would make World War II General Curtis LeMay blush.
As it stands, this is a 2-4 win team. It doesn’t matter if Malik Willis turns out to be the reincarnation of Randall Cunningham. They will not be able to assess him properly if his best option as a QB is to turn around and give the ball to Achane. I can do that. He needs time in the pocket and at least two adequate options to throw the ball to. Will Jon-Eric Sullivan be able to provide that for him?
The Draft of all Drafts
This is one of the most important drafts in the history of the Miami Dolphins franchise. This is a thorough rebuild and they’ve collected 11 picks for this upcoming draft, including seven in the first three rounds. They are in salary cap hell, with over $180 million in dead cap money this season, the most in NFL history. There ain’t much more they can do in free agency. In the draft, though? Anything is possible.
Get the best player available. You need help at receiver, corner, guard, safety, tight end, and probably edge rusher. Just focus on accruing as much talent as possible inside Hard Rock Stadium, then bust your ass to develop them and put them in the positions to succeed. This draft is deep with edge rushers and pass catchers, so no need to reach. If they take the best guy on the board 11 times in a row, apart from a QB or RB, I’ll be happy. Iron sharpens iron.
You can’t evaluate whether Malik Willis is the answer unless the 2026 class hits the ground running. I believe he has the talent to be an above-average NFL starter. Not a superstar, but a guy you can trust to do his job week in and week out. Giving him $67 million suggests the Dolphins aren’t simply trotting him out there to get his ass whooped and secure the top pick in next year’s draft. They know him and believe in him.
Now it’s time to give him a real chance to prove himself.
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