Until someone proves otherwise, the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 season is shaping up as a year of development first and evaluation second. The biggest question hanging over the team is whether Malik Willis can be their franchise quarterback, and the answer is supposed to come from how he looks, not from whatever the box score says.
That’s why the conversation about Miami’s skill positions matters so much. The Dolphins appear to be working with an underwhelming mix at wide receiver and tight end, and the immediate reaction has been to wonder whether that kind of supporting cast can give Willis a real shot at proving himself. The short answer from this view: yes, it can.
A useful comparison is the 2024 New England Patriots, who finished 4-13 with rookie Drake Maye posting an 88.1 passer rating. Maye’s numbers weren’t eye-popping, but anyone watching could see he had something to work with.
And he was doing it behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines with a receiver room that included DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and Javon Baker.
That’s the benchmark, and it’s fair to ask whether Miami’s current group is really that much different. The Dolphins’ receiver options include rookie standout (so far) Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell and Kevin Coleman Jr., with Chris Bell set to join the mix once he starts practicing. On paper, that doesn’t look like a major step up from what Maye had in New England.
The Patriots also had Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson at running back, a decent duo but not one that could match what De’Von Achane brings to Miami. Tight end goes to Hunter Henry over Greg Dulcich, though that’s as much about uncertainty with Dulcich as it is about Henry being a true difference-maker.
And the 2024 New England offensive line was ranked dead last in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, while the 2026 Dolphins line at least has two former first-round picks, two second-round picks and an All-Pro center. That alone suggests Miami should not be staring at a 32nd-ranked unit.
The point is simple: Willis does not need a perfect setup for the Dolphins to figure out what they have. GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley are going to judge him by how he operates the offense and how he performs in it, not by chasing a specific stat line.
That’s also why the argument that Miami needs a major upgrade at receiver and tight end before it can evaluate Willis doesn’t really hold up. If he somehow matched Maye’s 2024 production - 66.6 completion percentage, 15 TD, 10 INT, the 88.1 passer rating, 421 rushing yards - the decision would still come down to what the film says.
Josh Allen’s rookie year with the Buffalo Bills offers another reminder. In 2018, his starting wide receivers were Zay Jones, Robert Foster, Kelvin Benjamin, Isaiah McKenzie, Andre Holmes, Ray-Ray McCloud, Deonte Thompson, Terrelle Pryor.
That group wasn’t exactly loaded, either. The starting tight end was former Dolphins draft pick Charles Clay, and while LeSean McCoy was in the backfield, he was near the end of a very good career and not what Achane is now.
Allen finished with ugly numbers and a shaky passing profile, but the signs were there anyway. His passer rating that season was 67.9, and he threw more picks than interceptions.
The major difference is that Allen and Maye were first-round rookies, while Willis is a fifth-year free agent. But the uncertainty is still there because he hasn’t had many starts, and the Dolphins haven’t invested in him the way Buffalo and New England did in those quarterbacks. Even so, the evaluation process should be the same.
If Willis is the answer, Miami should be able to see it in 2026. The supporting cast doesn’t need to be playoff-caliber for the Dolphins to make that call, and the final judgment shouldn’t hinge on team success or shiny numbers.
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There is, though, one reason this version of the rebuild may not feel quite as chaotic. Miami is expected to have more early-round draft picks ready to start right away, which at least gives the Dolphins a better chance to field a more viable lineup from the opening week, and the quarterback situation also looks clearer with Malik Willis in place. The roster still has obvious holes and not much margin for error, but a more defined plan under center can matter when a team is trying to survive the early part of a season while the rest of the pieces catch up. [Read more 🡒]
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Dolphins May Have Found Cheap Help For A Secondary Fans Should Worry About
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One name to watch is Green Bay cornerback Carrington Valentine, who has played a meaningful role for the Packers even while enduring a rough 2025 season. Knox also noted that Valentine fits the prototype preferred by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, which is why he stands out as the sort of low-cost addition that could make sense if Miami decides its current depth chart needs another veteran option. [Read more 🡒]