One of the best analysts in all of football has shared his biggest question for Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis entering 2026
One of the best analysts in the game has offered his biggest question for Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis.
The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback situation is going to require a bit of a recalibration.
After years of quick-trigger, fast release, timing behind center, the Miami Dolphins are now suddenly boasting “explosive”, “athletic”, and “powerful arm”. New assumed starter Malik Willis has a very different DNA and set of strengths to Tua Tagovailoa. Miami, of course is hoping the higher ceiling yields higher results with time. But for all the things Willis is physically capable of being, one of the NFL’s best analysts has shared his biggest question about Willis in 2026. He shared it on the ‘Ross Tucker Football Podcast’ this past week.
NFL Matchup analyst Greg Cosell’s biggest question for Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis
“Don’t forget, they have Bobby Slowik now as the offensive coordinator. His background is mostly in a Shanahan-style offense. So I’m not going to sit here and say that Malik Willis can’t do that. Obviously what Malik Willis brings to the table is the quarterback run game by design and also the quarterback outside of structure game, which is very problematic for defense as we’ve seen in the league now. Where more and more quarterbacks can beat you with their legs on those 3rd and 8, 3rd and 9 situations. Those demoralizing kinds of plays. So Willis can give you those, the question is: can he run that really highly choreographed pass game that is sort of foundational to that kind of system? We’ll see if he can do it.”
— Greg Cosell, NFL Matchup Analyst on his big question for Malik Willis
The best thing that Willis has going for him in his effort to answer this question? His two years in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur. No, LaFleur isn’t Kyle Shanahan. But with Shanahan as the offensive coordinator, LaFleur spend four seasons (2010-2013) as his quarterbacks coach in Washington. Then, the same arrangement for two more seasons in Atlanta (2015-2016). LaFleur then spent the 2017 season in Los Angeles as the Rams’ offensive coordinator under Sean McVay.
Growing pains to be expected
So the one thing Matt LaFleur has is plenty of experience working the branches of this offense. Many of them are close to the roots of the tree, too. Slowik spent time in Washington with that pair, too — although he was on the defensive side of the coaching staff at the time.
Two years under LaFleur will give Willis plenty of exposure to terminology he’s likely to see in Miami. So that’s a good thing. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee the execution will be where it needs to be. But it does increase the likelihood that Willis won’t get stuck trying to spit out a play call. Or that he’ll get crossed up on where his receivers are supposed to be.
But amid the OTA and minicamp reports of up and down performance, it underscores that this is Willis’ first time at the helm as a starter. Some growing pains should be expected. But, on the other hand, the two things Willis does best according to Cosell? They really don’t show up this time of year either. So with a small taste of the gig in South Florida in hand, let’s see how Willis looks come August and calibrate expectations from there.
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