Reporter shares tough update for Malik Willis regarding future with Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins were largely as bad as forecasted in preseason previews over the first four weeks of the 2026 campaign, as the 0-4 Dolphins seem destined to have a legitimate shot at "earning" the top overall pick of the 2027 NFL Draft. 

In their latest mock drafts, multiple CBS Sports NFL writers predicted that the Dolphins would spend the top choice of next year's player-selection process on an eventual replacement for current starting quarterback Malik Willis. For a piece published on Tuesday,
Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN addressed the uphill battle Willis is facing to prove this fall that he can be the Dolphins' long-term answer at the sport's most important position.

Malik Willis doesn't have an easy schedule through Week 18

"As Miami progresses through what people inside the building have described as a developmental season, Willis is tasked with leading an inexperienced offense while playing well enough to stave off any temptation by the franchise to draft a quarterback next spring," Louis-Jacques wrote. "The Dolphins' remaining schedule is the ninth hardest in the league, according to ESPN's Football Power Index, and they'll play it without Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane, who tore an ACL in the Week 3 loss to the Chiefs."

The Dolphins signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5M contract with $45M of the deal fully guaranteed during the offseason, but he has not yet proved that he can elevate those around him while part of what was an underwhelming offense over the season's first four weeks. According to Pro Football Reference, Willis ended Week 4 ranked 23rd in the league among qualified players with a 38.5 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 73.0 passer rating. Meanwhile, ESPN stats show that the Dolphins are last in the league with an average of 11.5 points scored per game. 

Malik Willis could soon become unpopular among Dolphins fans

"The Dolphins aren't expected to win many games this season," Louis-Jacques added. "...There are multiple quarterbacks who have been deemed worthy of a high pick in the 2027 draft class, and fans could clamor for one of them if the Dolphins end up atop next year's draft order."

As for Week 5 of the ongoing season, the winless Dolphins will host the 2-2 Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 11. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Miami as a seven-point home underdog for that game.