The Miami Dolphins took a big chance on quarterback Malik Willis this offseason, signing him to a three-year, $67.5 million contract despite him having just six career NFL starts under his belt.
Willis convinced several teams he’s ready to take over as a full-time starter after wo years as Jordan Love’s backup in Green Bay.
The 26-year-old Willis completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions in limited action behind Love. Many felt it was time for Willis to step out of the shadows as a backup and into a leading role — and he’ll get that chance in Miami.
There’s a chance Willis’ career turns out like Kirk Cousins’ did when he left Washington to join the Minnesota Vikings. There’s also a chance he turns out like Brock Osweiler when he left Denver to join the Houston Texans.
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Because of the uncertainty, ESPN’s Ben Solak believes the Dolphins would be wise to plan for the worst-case scenario, which is why he projected Miami to draft Penn State QB Drew Allar, who he says is a “dominant pocket passer,” in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft.
“Allar can make anticipation throws into tight windows against the sideline or to the middle of the field, and that’s tough to teach,” Solak stated. “Winning with arm talent on rhythm throws from the pocket is how C.J. Stroud excelled for Bobby Slowik with the Texans in 2023 and 2024, and that’s how Allar will find success in the NFL.
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“The Dolphins are invested in Malik Willis for 2026 and even into 2027, given his contract guarantees, but using an early-Day 3 pick on Allar would allow him to beat out Quinn Ewers for the QB2 job and challenge for QB1 reps in 2027 if Willis struggles.
“… The Dolphins have so many draft needs that they might pass on quarterback entirely. But they also have so many picks (three third-rounders) that taking the leap on a falling Allar wouldn’t impact their rebuild and could even accelerate it if he hits.”
Allar has been called the most talented pure passer in the 2026 draft class by some scouts. The problem is he never quite put everything together at Penn State, and he suffered a broken ankle that ended his senior season prematurely.
Allar is a great developmental QB who could be a great NFL starter after sitting and learning for two or three years. But if Miami has any reservations about Willis panning out, Allar may not be the player the team wants as his backup.
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