malik willis is among the names linked to the Miami Dolphins as the team searches for a starting quarterback after releasing Tua Tagovailoa, a decision that leaves the roster short at the position for the 2026 offseason.
What Is the Current State of Play?
The Dolphins enter the 2026 offseason facing several parallel roster challenges and opportunities. The club needs a starting quarterback after releasing Tua Tagovailoa and still lists Quinn Ewers, Zach Wilson and Cam Miller on the post-Tagovailoa depth chart. Miami could consider selecting a quarterback with the No. 11 overall pick, but it also has a range of veteran free-agent options under consideration.
- The 2026 NFL free-agent market will feature 28 Miami Dolphins players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, plus pending restricted free agents Julian Hill and Matthew Butler.
- There is also a notable group of former Dolphins on the open market, highlighted by former first-round pick Jaelan Phillips.
- Several former Dolphins are listed with current teams: Teddy Bridgewater (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Skylar Thompson (Pittsburgh Steelers), Raheem Mostert (Las Vegas Raiders), Chase Edmonds (Washington Commanders), Salvon Ahmed (Indianapolis Colts) and Braxton Berrios (Houston Texans).
- Coaching and front-office change: Miami begins a rebuilding phase under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley.
What Happens if Malik Willis Lands in Miami?
Malik Willis has explicit connections to the Dolphins’ incoming leadership: Jeff Hafley is the head coach and is noted as a former Packers defensive coordinator, while Jon-Eric Sullivan is the new general manager and a former Packers player personnel executive. The offense Miami plans to run has been described as 49ers-adjacent — an alignment identified as potentially helpful for Willis’s success. At the same time, other teams, specifically the Cardinals and the Browns, appear prepared to pursue Willis more aggressively and lucratively.
Potential upside: If Miami signs Willis, those internal ties and schematic fit would be cited as immediate strategic justifications. Potential downside: firm external interest from the Cardinals and Browns could make a Miami signing difficult without a significant offer.
What Happens If Miami Chooses Another Route?
The Dolphins have a short list of other veteran and draft-centered options noted in recent coverage. Options discussed include veteran bridges and experienced starters with existing connections to elements of Miami’s staff or scheme. Names mentioned among the veteran options include Jimmy Garoppolo and Marcus Mariota; Garoppolo’s experience with the Dolphins’ incoming offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was highlighted as a factor that would reduce a learning curve, while Mariota was described as bringing veteran stability and potential mentorship for a young quarterback addition.
Scenario mapping — three plausible paths based on available signals:
- Best case: Miami signs a veteran bridge or lands a free-agent starter whose skill set aligns with the new offensive direction and coaching staff, while supplementing youth at quarterback the draft.
- Most likely: Miami evaluates a mix of veteran free agents, internal options already on the depth chart, and the possibility of drafting at No. 11, all while managing competitive offers from other teams for target free agents.
- Most challenging: Strong external pursuit of top targets and competing salary demands leave Miami without a clear veteran starter, forcing a reliance on younger depth-chart quarterbacks for the 2026 season.
Who wins and who loses in each path is straightforward: a successful veteran signing or draft pick benefits the front office and coaching staff; missed targets could leave the roster exposed and accelerate a longer rebuild. Among the free-agent churn, several former Dolphins and role players stand to benefit from market movement, while veterans with injury histories or advancing age face the steepest uphill climb to re-signing or landing new roles.
Readers should anticipate a busy offseason shaped by Miami’s new leadership, aggressive external bids for top targets, and the team’s draft-clock decisions — all factors that will determine whether malik willis becomes the focal point of the Dolphins’ next era.
