Draft drama, little help: Malik Willis starts 2026 with Dolphins short-handed

Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

Even though Miami has been clear about their support for Malik Willis, the real issue is the amount of uncertainty he’s still expected to manage with this roster after the draft.

General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has said “He’s our guy” and added that he is very comfortable with Willis and his ability to play with what is around him. Jeff Hafley’s message was similarly direct: “Don’t change who you are … it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

Those are the words of a staff member trying to establish calm around a new starter. They are not the words of a roster that has already solved the support problem.

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Miami still looks thin in the wrong places

The Dolphins may have added to their numbers in the draft, but there are still some areas of concern on the roster. The receiver group no longer has the same depth it once did after losing several experienced players. The edge rushers are more about potential than proven impact, and the secondary could do with more reliable options. Meanwhile, one injury along the interior offensive line could become a real problem.

That’s important because Willis isn’t stepping into a situation that’s designed to reduce risk. He’s joining a team that still needs to settle down in several key areas at once.

The front office went for long-term stability over a quick fix

There’s some logic behind that. Miami didn’t want to paper over cracks with a single headline move. But the downside is that a slower approach often leaves the quarterback carrying more of the load early on.