If the Miami Dolphins are going to beat the modest expectations hanging over them heading into 2026, Malik Willis is going to have to do more than just hold the fort.
The new starter arrives in Miami after flashing enough upside in six career starts to land a three-year, $67.5 million deal this offseason. But even with that contract, the questions around him haven’t gone anywhere. The former Titans and Packers backup is still trying to prove he can be more than a stopgap.
That uncertainty showed up in FanSided’s latest quarterback rankings, where a panel of 50 NFL experts graded every rostered quarterback in the league on a 12-point scale across 10 tiers, from "Truly Elite" to "Camp Arm". Willis came in with an overall grade of 6.52, which placed him 27th out of 93 quarterbacks.
He was slotted near the back end of the "Game Managers" tier, ahead of Joe Flacco and behind Daniel Jones at 22nd, Bryce Young at 25th, and the first three quarterbacks selected in the 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward at 23rd, Jaxson Dart at 24th and Tyler Shough at 26th.
That’s a reasonable spot for now based on what he’s shown. But for a Dolphins team that doesn’t expect much in 2026, it also makes the task in front of Willis pretty clear: he has to play better than that if Miami wants any real shot at staying out of the league’s basement.
The supporting cast around him doesn’t make the assignment any easier. Miami’s receiving group is built mostly around rookies and low-end veteran pieces, which leaves plenty of room to wonder how much help Willis will actually get.
I personally ranked Willis as a seven in the rating system, defined as "a competent starter who needs a strong supporting cast." That’s the heart of the issue in Miami. The quarterback has to prove he can elevate a roster that is young, thin and still coming together.
The 2026 season is being framed as a rebuilding year, with the focus on developing what is now the youngest roster in the league. Head coach Jeff Hafley has already acknowledged that much. Still, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan gave Willis that contract for a reason, and familiarity from their two seasons together in Green Bay was only part of it.
If Willis outperforms his ranking, it changes the picture fast. A better-than-expected 2026 could give Miami more than just a respectable season - it could also allow the team to spend resources elsewhere instead of chasing a quarterback early in next year’s draft.
Some fans may already be hoping for another chance to draft a franchise quarterback, especially after the Tua Tagovailoa era. But as the Dolphins know, a big draft investment doesn’t guarantee a long-term answer. A cheaper path like Willis might not carry the same excitement, but it could still be the right one if the rest of the roster grows around him.
And for a team trying to build something with a young core, that kind of surprise would go a long way. Willis is the piece that can make it happen.
In Other News...
Dolphins Practice Squad Has A Few Names Fans May Soon Know Well
Miamis 53-man roster is set, and as always, the real work now shifts to the margins. The Dolphins kept 12 of their 13 draft picks, with Max Llewellyn the lone draftee who did not make the initial cut before landing on the practice squad, and that group could wind up mattering more than usual. In a season where depth is already a concern, the practice squad is not just a holding area, it is the next layer of protection.
Jalen Reagor, Jarquez Hunter and Ethan Bonner are among the names worth tracking, since each could be asked to help if injuries hit or if the Dolphins need a jolt at a spot where the roster is thin. Wide receiver and cornerback remain the clearest pressure points, which means the call-up list may not stay theoretical for long. For a team trying to survive the grind of a season, the players tucked just beyond the active roster could soon become a familiar part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Receiver Move Gives Dolphins One More Week 1 Concern
The Raiders added a familiar depth piece on the eve of Week 1, signing wide receiver Ronnie Bell to their practice squad before facing the Dolphins. Bell has spent time with the 49ers and Saints, and while he is not on Las Vegas active 53-man roster, the move adds another name Miami has to account for as it opens the season.
Las Vegas also bolstered its practice squad with former Giants players Evan Neal and Azeez Ojulari while making room by releasing three other players. For Miami, the Bell move is the kind of small-bore roster shuffle that still matters this time of year, when every layer of depth can shape how a defense plans for the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have Handed Eagles An Edge Before Week 1
The Dolphins will spend plenty of time studying their own opponent this week, but the Packers already found themselves dealing with a different kind of tape problem before the season even got rolling. Miami coach Jeff Hafley said Philadelphia obtained fan-recorded video from Green Bays training camp, giving the Eagles a better sense of the defensive pressures they might see in the opener. It was a reminder that in the NFL, edge cases can come from unexpected places, even from the stands.
Green Bay has a policy limiting fan videotaping during certain portions of practice, and the team enforced it more strictly this preseason. The issue only added another layer to a Week 1 matchup the Eagles went on to win, in a game that produced notable defensive and offensive numbers. For a Dolphins team watching the leagues top contenders closely, it was another example of how much can happen before a game is even played. [Read more 🡒]