The Miami Dolphins’ decision to trade wide receiver Jaylen Waddle marked one of the most surprising moves of the offseason and raised immediate questions about the franchise’s long-term offensive direction under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.
The shift has also placed a sharper focus on quarterback Malik Willis, who remains central to Miami’s plans despite the loss of one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
Why the Miami Dolphins Still Believe in Malik Willis After Trading Jaylen Waddle
According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, the Dolphins made sure Willis was fully informed as discussions around the Waddle trade progressed. Wolfe detailed the team’s communication during a conversation with Ian Rapoport on “The Insiders.”
“From the conversations I’ve had, they gave Malik Willis a heads-up. [They had] a conversation before they traded Jaylen Waddle. He was in the know of this decision.”
Miami signed Willis early in free agency, signaling a philosophical reset at quarterback and a willingness to build around a younger, more mobile passer. Wolfe said the Waddle trade did not alter the team’s belief in Willis or its long-term plan.
Malik Willis has bright opportunity at start of Dolphins rebuild & plenty of draft picks to grow with him.
I’m told Miami kept Willis in the loop informing him before Jaylen Waddle trade: sign of how org feels about him.
More on new Dolphins/Willis for @nflnetwork The Insiders: pic.twitter.com/xokv0NCbwy
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 28, 2026
“And [Willis] is still all-in on the plan, just like they were when they signed him in free agency. This isn’t a shock adjustment to what particularly happened. Willis was signed because they view him as a potential long-term answer there. It’s not just a band-aid addition.”
The Dolphins’ broader roster strategy has reflected that same long-range thinking. Sullivan and Hafley have emphasized youth, flexibility, and development as they reshape an offense that posted a PFSN NFL Offense Impact score of 73.1 last season, ranking 19th overall. Improving that mark is a clear priority, and the organization believes a stable quarterback plan is essential to that climb.
“He is there to be the starter. The Dolphins do plan to continue to add competition, so don’t be surprised if they draft a quarterback in April… but this is a clear runway for Willis with a young team to show he can be the long-term answer.”
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Miami holds multiple picks in next month’s draft and is expected to continue adding pieces around its new quarterback. But the message from the front office has remained consistent.
Willis is the starter, and the organization is committed to giving him the space to prove he can lead the franchise into its next era as they continue reshaping a roster that now reflects a more deliberate, future-focused vision under Sullivan and Hafley.
