The first month of the season has left the Miami Dolphins in a brutal spot, and Malik Willis is already feeling the pressure that comes with it.
Miami is 0-4, right where the preseason skepticism said it might land, and that kind of start has quickly pushed the Dolphins into the conversation for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. In multiple recent CBS Sports mock drafts, several NFL writers projected Miami using that top selection on a quarterback who could eventually replace Willis.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques laid out the challenge facing Willis in a Tuesday piece, pointing to both the schedule ahead and the state of the offense around him.
"As Miami progresses through what people inside the building have described as a developmental season, Willis is tasked with leading an inexperienced offense while playing well enough to stave off any temptation by the franchise to draft a quarterback next spring," Louis-Jacques wrote. "The Dolphins' remaining schedule is the ninth hardest in the league, according to ESPN's Football Power Index, and they'll play it without Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane, who tore an ACL in the Week 3 loss to the Chiefs."
Willis arrived on a three-year, $67.5M contract with $45M fully guaranteed, but the early returns have not been enough to quiet the questions. Through four weeks, Pro Football Reference had him 23rd among qualified quarterbacks with a 38.5 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 73.0 passer rating. The offense around him has struggled even more, with ESPN stats showing Miami last in the league at 11.5 points per game.
Louis-Jacques also noted that the standings could turn the fan base restless fast.
"The Dolphins aren't expected to win many games this season," Louis-Jacques added. "...There are multiple quarterbacks who have been deemed worthy of a high pick in the 2027 draft class, and fans could clamor for one of them if the Dolphins end up atop next year's draft order."
Miami’s next chance to get on track comes in Week 5, when the winless Dolphins host the 2-2 Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 11. DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Dolphins as seven-point home underdogs Tuesday morning.
In Other News...
Dolphins May Be Missing A Key Passing Game Piece Again
Caleb Douglas has been stuck on the sideline since Week 2 with an ankle injury, and the Dolphins still have not gotten him back onto the practice field. Head coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that Douglas was out but improving, which at least keeps the door open for a return soon even if the timeline remains murky.
Miami could use the help. The offense has been fighting for rhythm without Douglas, with the passing game producing limited receiving yards and passing touchdowns through the first four weeks. For a unit looking to find more consistent answers through the air, his recovery has become another important subplot to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Still Waiting On Kenneth Grant's Week 5 Reality
Kenneth Grant has taken the first real step toward getting back on the field for Miami, opening his 21-day return window and getting back to practice with the team. For a Dolphins defense that could use another body inside, his comeback is about more than simply filling a roster spot. It gives Miami a chance to add some much-needed versatility to the defensive tackle rotation if the recovery keeps moving in the right direction.
For now, though, Week 5 remains unsettled. Jeff Hafley said Grants activation and playing status will depend on how he continues to respond, and no call has been made yet on whether he will suit up. Miami does have one open roster spot available, so the path is there, but the timing still matters, and the Dolphins are waiting to see whether Grant is ready soon enough to matter this week. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Will Need To Check This Weeks Unusual TV Setup
The Dolphins second home game of the 2026 season brings a familiar AFC opponent to Hard Rock Stadium, but the TV setup is a little different from what viewers around South Florida are used to. Miami will host the Bengals on FOX, with Eric Collins, Mark Schlereth and Jen Hale handling the broadcast because the networks regular crew is tied up elsewhere.
For fans trying to find the game, the wrinkle is distribution: this one is being carried regionally, with the Dolphins-Bengals matchup shown in southern Florida and the Cincinnati area while other NFL games are spread across different networks and time slots around the state. For Miami supporters, it means a quick check of the local listings before kickoff instead of assuming the usual Sunday afternoon slot will sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]