The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era in the 2026 season in more ways than one, and their quarterback situation is one area that will have a fresh look.
After moving on from homegrown talent Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins picked up quarterback Malik Willis this offseason, who’s set to take over the reins.
But he will have to prove himself, and Bleacher Report speculates that he’s among a group of quarterbacks who could be benched this coming season.
Bleacher Report named eight such quarterbacks. For what it’s worth, Willis was described as the “least likely to get the hook” out of the eight players named.
Willis is a little bit of a wild card for the Dolphins. They signed him to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million, indicating that the franchise believes in his potential. But the 27-year-old hasn’t gotten too many opportunities as a starter at the NFL level, so his 2026 season could be a very informative one.
The quarterback enters his Dolphins tenure having made just six NFL starts (and 22 overall appearances). He has shown lots of promise, including a 67.7 completion percentage to go along with six passing touchdowns and three interceptions. He is also a threat with his legs, as he already has 405 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in his career.
The question is whether he will be able to remain consistent and productive over the course of a 17-game season. If he can do that, he may have the potential to become a star.
Willis will need to find ways to be effective without a very strong supporting cast on offense this season. The Dolphins moved on from all sorts of talent this offseason, including wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. There has been some concern about how the wide receiver room will look in the new campaign.
But the good news is that with reduced expectations comes reduced pressure, so Willis should be given some room for growing pains in his debut season with the squad. The hope is certainly that he makes it through the whole year without being benched and even shows that he has what it takes to be the guy in Miami moving forward.
