Jeff Hafley isn’t entertaining a quarterback change, even with the Dolphins sitting at 0-5 and heading into their bye week.
Miami’s offseason overhaul was massive. The team moved on from Tua Tagovailoa and also cleared out Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb, Tyreek Hill, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. The idea was a full reset, and the Dolphins made their biggest move by signing Malik Willis to a three-year deal, betting on a quarterback who entered the league as a raw prospect and took time to show he could handle starting duties.
So far, the results have been rough. Willis has thrown for 849 yards, which ranks 25th, and he has only two passing touchdowns. With the Dolphins still searching for their first win, the bye week could have been the natural pause point for a reset under center.
Instead, Hafley shut that down. According to Davis Furones, the coach said the team has no plans to bench Willis. “We've played five games, and Malik is our quarterback,” Hafley said.
That stance fits where Miami is right now. The Dolphins are rebuilding, and they don’t have another quarterback on the roster who clearly changes the picture. Former sixth-round pick Kyle McCord is the backup, but the job remains Willis’ for now.
For Miami, the season now becomes less about chasing immediate wins and more about evaluating what it has. The Dolphins can ride with Willis through the rest of the year and then decide whether he belongs in their long-term plans or whether the search for a new starter begins in the draft.
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Dolphins Could Be Headed For A Brutal QB Decision In 2027
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One name that keeps surfacing is Arch Manning, whose college arc has been uneven enough to complicate his draft stock after once looking like a cant-miss prospect. Miami would still have to weigh whether the long view is worth the risk, especially with the memory of other highly regarded passers who took time to find their footing before settling in as franchise pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Path Fans Wont Like
The early-season slump has already pushed the conversation around Miami beyond lineup tweaks and into bigger roster questions. ESPN insider Adam Schefter recently grouped the Dolphins with the Cardinals, Chargers and Titans as teams that could be worth watching as the NFL trade deadline approaches, a sign that a rough start can quickly change the way front offices think about the rest of the season.
Miami has already shown it is willing to make difficult moves, including dealing Jaylen Waddle as part of a broader set of roster changes. With Arizona having moved Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans for future draft picks and the other teams in that group also dealing with their own losses and injuries, the looming deadline could become less about chasing a quick fix and more about how much each club is willing to rethink its long-term direction. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Face A Risky Austin Jackson Decision After 0-5 Start
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The problem is what comes after Jackson, because the depth chart does not offer much comfort. Caedan Wallace is the most likely immediate replacement, but he has only two career starts, and the other tackle options behind him are even less experienced, which makes any move feel far riskier than a typical deadline trade. [Read more 🡒]