Dolphins Tank Job Leaves Malik Willis With No Chance to Prove Himself

After failing to emerge as a real contender with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel, the Miami Dolphins appear to be far more interested in obtaining the first-overall pick than winning in 2026. Their roster teardown reached new lows with the departure of receiver Jaylen Waddle last week, and their roster is so bereft of talent at this point it could cloud their ability to truly evaluate the one intriguing newcomer they obtained this offseason.

Miami outbid several other motivated suitors to land quarterback Malik Willis in free agency, reunited him with new head coach Jeff Hafley who was with him in Green Bay. But in gutting their roster since the trade deadline, and with such serious issues throughout their offensive line and skill positions, rival execs are already wondering if Willis will even have the chance to show what he can do before Miami is almost certainly picking near the very top of the draft a year from now, when quarterback prospects project to be all the rage.

Will Willis Get a Fair Shot?

“He’s got no shot,” said one NFL general manager after looking at Miami’s current projected depth chart on offense. 

“No shot, dude. No chance. That’s not a starting NFL offense.”

Another top evaluator said: “I hope they told (Willis) this was the plan when they signed him. That is a total rebuild on offense.”

Willis will earn $23.5M guaranteed in 2026, and then has $21.5M fully guaranteed in 2027, in what mounts to a two-year deal. However, already some other teams are wondering if Willis will even make it through a second season there. Without an offensive line to protect him, or playmakers to help keep drives alive, he’s going to suffer next season even with strong individual efforts. Could he possibly show enough to keep Miami from investing its top pick in 2027 on a long-term, and cheaper, solution at quarterback a year from now?

“I don’t see how,” the evaluator said. 

Willis’s deal is structured that he could be easily dealt by the 2027 trade deadline if need be, without massive cap or cash ramifications and it would be an attractive option for a contending team that lost its starter to injury. It’s conceivable he shows well enough this season to protect his trade value in 2027, but hard to figure he exceeds – with this cast around him, to the point where Miami resists the urge to draft another first-round quarterback a year from now.

The Waddle trade also has increased chatter about the future of standout running De’Von Achane in Miami, with opinions varied about the likelihood he stays in Miami long term. Building around a position with that much attrition doesn’t make much sense, although perhaps Willis would prefer at least one proven quality starter remains in the huddle with him.