The Miami Dolphins already made noise last week when they signed Malik Willis as their next franchise quarterback, replacing former first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa.
They’ve done so again, trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for first-, third-, and fourth-round selections in next month’s draft. The move prompted widespread speculation that the Dolphins are entering the rebuilding phase and ushering in a new era, led by the tandem of new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
Miami Dolphins Are Laying the Foundations for a Rebuild
No, the Dolphins aren’t simply phoning it in, but it’s clear that the organization is trying to undo the damage done by the previous regime.
They’re paying a league-leading $175 million in dead money to players no longer on their roster, a list that includes Tagovailoa, Waddle, receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive end Bradley Chubb, offensive linemen Terron Armstead and James Daniels, and quarterback Zach Wilson.
On paper, it would look like Willis, who signed a three-year contract with the Dolphins worth $67.5 million, is stepping into a dumpster fire. That’s not the case. If anything, Willis helps lay the groundwork for the future; the most crucial thing the Dolphins could have done is identify who their signal-caller is going to be for the foreseeable future. After all, the worst time to draft a quarterback is when you absolutely need a quarterback.
Former linebacker and NFL Network analyst Manti Te’o echoed these sentiments in a segment on Wednesday, saying that the Dolphins’ main priority is to rebuild.
“When you bring in a new head coach and a new franchise quarterback, the greatest blessing is that you can structure [the organization] the way that you want to.”
Manti Te’o on the Dolphins embracing the “rebuild” stage. pic.twitter.com/ZKG4GGVABf
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 18, 2026
“It’s not that they’re trying to win now,” Te’o said. “But their main priority is to rebuild and figure out how to establish things from ground zero. You break everything down to the studs, and you’re looking at your house like, ‘Alright, what do I want this thing to be?'”
As Jordan Love’s No. 2 quarterback in Green Bay, Willis started three games for the Packers in the two seasons he was with the team. He’s completed 78.7% of his passes for six touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also rushed 42 times for 261 yards and another three scores.
Willis’ final and arguably most impressive audition came on Dec. 27 in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. With Love out due to a concussion he had sustained the week prior, Willis completed 18 of his 21 pass attempts for 288 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 60 yards and another pair of touchdowns. As a backup, Willis didn’t have enough snaps to qualify for the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics.
That lone audition isn’t what netted Willis this opportunity, but it certainly helped his case and contributed to the $45 million in guaranteed money with his deal.
“When you bring in a new head coach, you bring in a new potential franchise quarterback, the greatest blessing is you can structure it in the way you want to, and you’re not going to have any remnants of what was before,” Te’o said.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
“There are going to be some growing pains there, it’s just all about what do the Miami Dolphins have to do to help Willis be the best quarterback he can be? As long as there’s synchronicity between the upper office, the second floor to the first floor, everything should be okay.”
While Willis will have the luxury of De’Von Achane in the backfield as his running back, the cupboard is relatively bare at wide receiver at the moment. Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell are currently the team’s top three wideouts, but that could change quickly. They own a whopping seven top-100 selections in the draft, including Nos. 11 and 30 in the first round.
