Judging Miami Dolphins’ Malik Willis in 2026 should account for this reclamation quarterback’s recent comments about player development
One of the NFL’s most successful reclamation project sheds some light on what you can (and can’t) learn on the bench — how does it impact our judgement of Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis?
The expectations for the Miami Dolphins in 2026, externally, are low. But inside the building, you do get the sense that the team feels like they have some really strong pieces to build around.
Based on their financial decisions, that would appear to include quarterback Malik Willis. Willis, a former third-round draft choice who spent two seasons in Tennessee and then the last two in Green Bay as a backup, has been tabbed as ‘the guy’ by Miami’s’ new leadership. It cannot be overstated how big of a deal it would be if Willis hits. But judging his play amid a massive roster and salary cap overhaul in 2026 could be complicated. Assessing Willis’ play deserves nuance and patience. But it doesn’t absolve him from a certain standard thanks to his two years in Green Bay. That’s even more evident after hearing the most successful quarterback reclamation of recent memory, Sam Darnold, talk about what he learned from just one year on the bench.
Expectations for Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis in 2026 should include Sam Darnold’s thoughts on player development
“I feel like I got my PhD in football when I went to San Francisco. That was such a blessing for me to learn from Kyle, Brian Griese, the Kubiaks, Klay and Klint. And then to be able to, not only learn from Brock…but like all the great players that are over there.”
— Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold on ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’
Now, Malik Willis didn’t play in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and others. But he played for another one of the league’s most revered play-callers in Matt LaFleur, who runs a different branch of the Shanahan coaching tree. And he played behind starting quarterback Jordan Love, who has proven himself a successful starter. While sharing the field with an emergent tight end in Tucker Kraft and a deep (but young) wide receiver room.
Willis deserves grace and patience amid his first full-time starting gig. But the football world is well within their right to expect a certain baseline for Willis. That should be that he looks like an NFL starter. Darnold threw 46 passes (130 total snaps) in live action during his one year in San Francisco, which brought him his ‘PhD in football’. He hardly played at all. But he absorbed the game in a way that allowed him to grow and unlock his physical potential.
Why can’t Willis’ two years of time in Green Bay, even if his sample size of actual game reps is small, do the same? It should. Let’s not expect Sam Darnold in Minnesota or Seattle numbers for Willis in 2026. I’m not sure Miami has that kind of weaponry just yet. But we should absolutely expect that the lessons he learned while playing (and, more importantly, not playing) for the Packers over the last two seasons are lessons he’s carrying with him now.
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