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Dolphins Back Malik Willis as 2026 Starter Despite Limited Experience

A three-year, $67.5 million contract makes Willis the Dolphins' starter for 2026 with Quinn Ewers serving as the primary backup.

Overview

  • The Dolphins signed Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with $45 million guaranteed, a move that contractually locks him in as the Week 1 starter.
  • Willis has only six career NFL starts and coaches and local reporters say he still needs faster processing and better timing with a largely rebuilt receiving corps.
  • Quinn Ewers is widely viewed as the favored backup and could see significant preseason and late-season reps if Willis struggles to hold the job.
  • Sunday coverage showed a split in opinion among beat writers and analysts, with some insisting Willis is the clear starter and others urging an open competition or calling Willis a potential short-term solution.
  • The Dolphins’ roster turnover and the June 7 court ruling removing a supplemental-draft QB option increase the chance Miami will consider a top quarterback in the 2027 draft if Willis does not solidify the role, making training camp and preseason the key evaluation window.