History suggests the Miami Dolphins have their priorities in the right place as they set about building with Malik Willis
Many of the successful quarterbacks who profile like Malik Willis in recent memory have a few things in common with what the Miami Dolphins are doing in 2026.
The Miami Dolphins‘ hopes behind center lie in the hands (and arm…and legs…) of quarterback Malik Willis. This group certainly hasn’t talked about him as though he’s just some kind of shot in the dark.
Whether or not Willis works out is going to be determined in large part by how Willis meets the moment. The Miami Dolphins seem to believe he’s made of the right stuff. And despite some of the differing opinions on how well the Miami Dolphins have set Willis up to be successful, recent history seems to suggest that Miami’s got their efforts in the right place. Because most of the successful non-first round quarterbacks who have thrived when taking a starting job have done so not because of a surreal list of pass catchers. But because they had a good running game to lean on. Miami is aspiring to offer their own.
History suggest the Miami Dolphins have their priorities in the right place as they set about to build with Malik Willis
Off the top of your head. Who are the most successful non-first round quarterbacks of the last 10-15 years? Surely Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott make the list. Jalen Hurts was a second-round draft choice who has hoisted a Lombardi Trophy. Russell Wilson quickly achieved great successes and won a championship in Seattle. Jimmy Garoppolo is a step down from those three — but he took the 49ers to a Super Bowl in his first full year as a starter.
Purdy was a seventh-round draft choice. Prescott had his name called in the fourth-round. Wilson was drafted 75th overall by the Seahawks in 2012. And Garoppolo was taken in the second-round, same as Hurts.
Malik Willis? He was the 86th overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. He, like Garoppolo, was traded from his first team with limited reps. He does somewhat qualify as uncharted waters — as he’s signed a handsome free agent deal to come to Miami. But if Willis is going to have success in 2026, it’s going to be in large part because the cast around him doesn’t ask him to do too much. Just as was the case for the other non-first round quarterbacks invoked in this discussion.
A history of running games for successful first-time quarterbacks (not first-round selections)
Here are the running game ranks for each of the aforementioned quarterbacks in their first season as a full-time starter:
- Russell Wilson, Seattle (2012): 1st in rush attempts, 3rd in rush yards, 5th in yards per carry
- Dak Prescott, Dallas (2016): 1st in rush attempts, 2nd in rush yards, 3rd in yards per carry
- Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco (2019): 2nd in rush attempts, 2nd in rush yards, 9th in yards per attempt
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia (2021): 2nd in rush attempts, 1st in rush yards, 4th in yards per attempt
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco (2023): 8th in rush attempts, 3rd in rush yards, 4th in yards per attempt
The offenses that find the right success for young quarterbacks who aren’t top of the draft players do so by often not putting too much on their plate. So when the Miami Dolphins preach their desire to run the football, understand this is part of the process as to why.
Yes. Some of these franchises had strong defensive units at their backs. It’s hard to say with confidence what the Miami Dolphins have there in 2026. Hopefully head coach Jeff Hafley can work his magic. But the other thing most of these quarterbacks had in common when they assumed control? Star-studded wide receiver rooms.
The wide receiver room follows suit in this history lesson
Russell Wilson’s leading receivers during his first season in Seattle were Sidney Rice (748 yards) and Golden Tate (688). The third receiver on the team had less than 400 yards. Dak Prescott’s top targets were Cole Beasley (833 yards) and late-stage Dez Bryant (796 yards). Jalen Hurts’ first season as a starter in 2021 featured a high rookie pick in Devonta Smith. The number two wide receiver was Quez Watkins. They posted 916 and 647 yards respectively. The third receiver, current Miami Dolphins receiver Jalen Reagor, posted under 300 yards that year. Garoppolo had George Kittle, yes. But he also had one receiver with more than 503 receiving yards at his disposal that year in 2019 (Deebo Samuel, 802).
Purdy is the outlier. He landed into a picturesque situation in just about every way. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel…it was quite the group. Miami isn’t so lucky. But they do offer a strong presence in the run game. And also their most promising projections to catch the football lie at running back (De’Von Achane) and tight end (Greg Dulcich).
There’s no guarantee that this all sorts out for the Miami Dolphins in a favorable way. But the history of non-first round quarterbacks seizing the moment as a first-time starter seems to suggest they’ve got their mind in the right place.
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