Kelly: Setting realistic expectations for Malik Willis as Miami’s starting QB | Opinion

Chad Pennington was clutch and efficient, but couldn’t stay healthy as a starting quarterback in his later years.

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Chad Henne had the college pedigree, but earned the nickname “Checkdown Chad” because of his conservative nature as the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback.

Pat White’s athleticism motivated Dolphins’ czar Bill Parcells to select him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, but the West Virginia standout lacked the frame needed to be an NFL player.

Ryan Tannehill had a strong arm and surprising athleticism, but lacked the pocket presence needed to be clutch when the pressure rose.

Ryan Fitzpatrick had leadership skills that helped him unite a young Dolphins team, but didn’t have enough talent to be viewed as anything more than a bridge quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa was an elite processor, but wasn’t durable and had a popgun for an arm that eventually faded.

That’s nearly two decades of bad decisions when it comes to quarterbacks, the selection, and investment made in — and for — that critical position. That troublesome theme is one of the many factors that have kept South Florida’s NFL franchise in mediocrity for most of two decades.

The main question Miami needs an answer to this season is whether Malik Willis will be more of the same, or different from the 28 quarterbacks who preceded him as Dan Marino’s potential replacement?

Even though the Dolphins are embarking on a scorched-earth reset of the franchise, which is eating $182 million in dead cap to fix the team’s finances, this season matters because Miami’s new decision-makers handpicked Willis as Tagovailoa’s replacement because of their belief he could become a franchise quarterback.

After watching Willis blossom all spring and summer, they might be onto something.

“I’m grateful,” Willis said days before making his seventh NFL start in Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. “Obviously it’s a blessing, and I just want to do everything I can and prepare for that and just take it as it comes.”

He’s referring to the challenges, pressure, expectations, criticism and praise that come with being an NFL starting quarterback.

“If you’re a quarterback, you can’t throw interceptions. You cannot turn the ball over and win in this league. Is he throwing the ball accurately? Is he missing guys? Is he using his legs when he should use his legs?” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said when asked how Willis should be evaluated this season. “That’s one of [Willis’} greatest gifts. And then are we moving the ball?

“I think the really good ones tilt the field in their favor.”

Willis has the potential to do so because of his athleticism, which is top shelf, his cannon for an arm, surprising pocket presence and the fact he has spent the past four seasons watching and learning, developing his skills as a player, and a leader.

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Sullivan said the barometer will be Willis’ ability to matriculate the ball down the field, and how he handles himself when adversity arrives.

Does he know the offense well enough to execute efficiently on third downs, and in the red zone, when defenses tighten?

Is he throwing catchable footballs, making throws on time, sharp with his ball placement?

When he scrambles is there a purpose? Is he flushed out the pocket too quickly and uses his legs as a cheat code?

“I’ve heard he was fast. He is fast, fast. I mean, that guy can fly,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I’ve really been impressed with his pocket work and his footwork. I think he has a great feel in the pocket for navigating like the subtle movements that you have to make just to get enough space to navigate a throw or to see a window to see if it opens.”

Willis’ scrambling skills is something the Dolphins haven’t had since David Woodley during the pre-Marino years, and it’s expected to add a new dimension to Miami’s offense, one that forces defenses to typically defend the field honestly.

“You make football 11 versus 11,” Slowik said.

That’s part of the appeal to Willis that coach Jeff Hafley was drawn to when he watched him use it against the Packers’ first-team defense while leading Green Bay’s scout team as Hafley got his defense prepared for each week’s opponent.

The Dolphins’ decision-makers became intrigued with Willis’ skill set from the two seasons they spent with him in Green Bay, where he served as Jordan Love’s understudy and his replacement for three games. Sullivan and Hafley targeted Willis as Tagovailoa’s replacement as the first step of this franchise’s rebuilding process, and guaranteed him $45 million during the next two seasons as part of his three-year, $67.5 million deal.

That means he will likely be given this season, if not more, to prove he is who Sullivan and Hafley think he is.

If he’s not, the Dolphins will likely struggle and therefore earn an early 2027 first-round pick, which they could use to draft one of college football’s top standouts.

However, there is some debate whether Willis has enough talent around him to be properly evaluated as a first-year starter, especially after the Dolphins traded receiver Jaylen Waddle for a 2026 first-round draft pick.

Miami’s offense likely will be built around Pro Bowl tailback De’Von Achane, and the rushing attack a relatively veteran offensive line can create. But when it comes to the passing game Willis will be forced to rely on an inexperienced tight end and receiver unit, one that will likely feature four rookie starters, if not core contributors in Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman and tight end Will Kacmarek.

“I feel very comfortable that as these young players grow with Malik,” Sullivan said. “We’ll all see what Malik is.”

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