One rapidly changing landscape across the NFL is making a Miami Dolphins offseason gamble look increasingly justified
The NFL’s quarterback landscape early in 2026 serves as further evidence that the Miami Dolphins were right to swing on QB Malik Willis regardless of their team situation.
The NFL landscape is shifting just two weeks into this 2026 season. Teams with slow starts could be looking at regime changes if things stay the same. And some teams that were perceived to not be in the quarterback landscape next offseason may actually be in the hunt.
The Miami Dolphins will be either way. Admittedly, quarterback Malik Willis’ play will determine whether Miami is hunting for a starter or some young blood for the room behind him. That flexibility is looking increasingly like a nice place to be in comparison to the alternative. As the quarterback landscape shifts before our eyes. It affirms the Dolphins’ bet on Willis in the first place.
Quarterback need is everywhere you look but the Miami Dolphins do have some flexibility
Look around. The Washington Commanders are dealing with another significant injury to Jayden Daniels, another elbow dislocation. Jaxson Dart suffered an MCL & meniscus tear that has him out for the rest of the season. The situation in Atlanta, even fresh off a big upset on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, can best be described as tumultuous. They were down to QB4 by the second half of Week 2 — and Michael Penix is well documented as having three ACL injuries on his resume.
Lest we forget how frankly awful the Steelers offense has looked with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. And we already know this is his personal swan song. Then you add the traditional quarterback-needy teams like the Arizona Cardinals, the Cleveland Browns, and the New York Jets?
There’s no shortage of teams you could point to and say they have a significant need at quarterback. Including some that may end up in the market that we didn’t expect. With that kind of supply and demand issue looming, you should absolutely seize every bite of the apple that you can take. That’s what the Dolphins did with Willis.
Willis gives Miami a legitimate chance at a solution. And, in the process, could end up taking the pressure off to compete against a quarter of the league this offseason. The Dolphins took their shot, and the crumbling and/or shaky quarterback situations across the NFL only validate the decision further — no matter how things ultimately turn out.
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