Three NFL stars whose teams are asking way too much of them

The NFL loves putting everything on the quarterback. Sometimes that comes with a $60 million salary and an All-Pro receiver. Other times, a team hands its quarterback the keys and apparently forgets to put gas in the car.

Three NFL stars enter 2026 with particularly heavy workloads. Their teams have different expectations, but each is counting on one player to cover up more problems than he probably should.

Malik Willis is being asked to prove himself without much help

The Miami Dolphins finally gave Malik Willis the opportunity he spent years waiting for. Then they made his new job considerably harder.

Miami signed Willis to become its starting quarterback in March. A little more than a week later, the Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. Willis didn't hide his disappointment, calling the move "unfortunate" and acknowledging he would have loved the opportunity to play with Waddle.

That's a rough way to welcome a quarterback you're asking to establish himself as a legitimate NFL starter. Miami is now relying heavily on young, unproven options around Willis while also trying to solidify an offensive line that recently required another addition. The Dolphins acquired Caedan Wallace from New England in August as another piece for a young group tasked with protecting Willis.

Willis at least provided an encouraging glimpse in Miami's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. He completed four of five passes for 43 yards and directed a 93-yard touchdown drive.

The talent has always been intriguing. Miami is simply asking Willis to prove an awful lot without giving him anything close to a loaded offense.

Buccaneers keep putting more on Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield helped make sure the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't disappear when Tom Brady retired. Now, Tampa Bay is asking him to keep doing it under increasingly difficult circumstances.

Mike Evans is gone, removing a receiver who had been a fixture in Tampa Bay's offense long before Mayfield arrived. That alone creates another challenge for a quarterback who has already helped stabilize the franchise after Brady.

Then there's the contract situation. Mayfield entered the offseason seeking an extension before the final year of his deal. In June, he said the two sides were "not anywhere close" to what he expected. Training camp arrived without an agreement, and Mayfield shut down negotiations to focus on the season.

Mayfield helped Tampa Bay successfully navigate one of the most difficult quarterback transitions imaginable. Now, the Buccaneers want him to lead another changing offense while his own future with the franchise remains unsettled.

Chargers are putting enormous expectations on Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert isn't lacking talent around him. That's not really the issue. The problem is what Los Angeles now expects him to become.

The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel largely because of what his offense could do with Herbert. McDaniel has openly talked about his lofty expectations for the quarterback and has even challenged Herbert to change elements of his mechanics and anticipation within the new system.

Los Angeles averaged only 21.6 points per game last season. Now, McDaniel's arrival has created expectations that Herbert can transform the unit into something dramatically better.

At some point, Herbert also has to change the conversation surrounding his career. Individual statistics and ridiculous throws only buy so much time. The Chargers need postseason results.

Los Angeles didn't simply hire McDaniel to improve its offense. It paired one of football's most creative offensive coaches with Herbert and essentially removed the remaining excuses. If the Chargers are going anywhere in a loaded AFC, they're asking Herbert to take them there.