Miami’s Quarterback Picture Remains Murky, But Quinn Ewers Has Eyes Watching
As the NFL offseason kicks into gear, one of the biggest questions hanging over the league is this: Who will be the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback in 2026?
New head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan have made one thing clear - there will be competition. But they’ve stopped short of naming names. And that silence only adds fuel to the speculation.
What we do know is this: Quinn Ewers made an impression down the stretch in 2025. The rookie got the nod for the Dolphins’ final three games and showed flashes that turned heads - not just among fans, but league insiders as well.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently joined The Jim Rome Show and shared his thoughts on Ewers’ late-season audition. While he didn’t crown Ewers the future in Miami, he made it clear the young quarterback showed something worth watching.
“Physically, he looks way better than he did in college,” Rapoport said. “Didn’t seem like it was too big for him.
He wasn’t perfect, but I was like, I wonder if there is something here? I would like to see more of him.”
That’s a sentiment a lot of Dolphins fans can probably relate to. Ewers didn’t light the world on fire, but he looked composed, confident, and capable. For a rookie thrown into the fire late in the year, that’s a solid foundation.
But here’s the thing - Miami isn’t handing him the job. Not yet.
Hafley and Sullivan have both emphasized the idea of open competition, and based on what we’ve seen from this new regime, they’re not in the business of making sentimental decisions. If Ewers is going to be the guy, he’s going to have to earn it.
And that brings us to the elephant in the room: Tua Tagovailoa.
Rapoport didn’t mince words on that front. He said he’d be surprised if Tagovailoa returns to the Dolphins in 2026 - a view that’s becoming more and more common around the league. The writing may be on the wall, even if the Dolphins haven’t said it outright.
So, if not Tua, then who?
One name that keeps popping up is Malik Willis. The former Titans quarterback is a free agent and has ties to Green Bay - the same place both Hafley and Sullivan spent time before landing in Miami.
That connection matters. And while Willis hasn’t proven himself as a surefire starter, he’s got the tools and familiarity with the offensive philosophy that could make him a fit.
Still, don’t expect Willis to sign unless he has a real shot at the starting job. He’s not coming in to hold a clipboard unless that’s the only option on the table.
Meanwhile, Ewers remains in a strong position. At the very least, he’s put himself in the mix to be the No. 2 quarterback - and maybe more, depending on how the offseason shakes out.
Zach Wilson is also hitting free agency, but don’t expect him to land in Miami. He’s been vocal about wanting a fresh opportunity to compete for a starting role, and that kind of opportunity likely isn’t available in South Florida, even with a new coaching staff in place.
So, for now, the Dolphins’ quarterback situation is a puzzle with a few missing pieces. Ewers is one of them.
Willis might be another. Tua’s time in Miami appears to be nearing its end.
And March - when free agency opens - could bring the clarity everyone’s waiting for.
Until then, the only certainty is uncertainty. But in a league where quarterback play is everything, the Dolphins know they can’t afford to get this decision wrong.