AJ Henning

The Dolphins spent a good chunk of cash to bring in a new potential starting quarterback. While the establishment of a franchise passer rests largely on their own arm, the weapons available to the quarterback are pretty important, too. Miami essentially hit the reset button on both positions this offseason, so it will be interesting to see how the team will evaluate both groups this year.

As the Titans prepared for life after Ryan Tannehill, they began taking early-round chances to try and find his heir apparent without taking a Day 1 passer. They started with Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in 2022, and though Willis was presented an opportunity to start three games as a rookie, he looked quite over-matched in those early contests. After some seasoning and a move to Green Bay, Willis looked much improved in backup duties with the Packers.

In Miami, Willis is being set up as the starting quarterback for the first time in his career. The Dolphins spent quite a bit more for Willis than a team might for a regular bridge quarterback because they believe there’s a chance Willis continues to impress in a larger role. The evaluation of Willis will hinge on what he’s able to do with the group of receivers around him, and that group no longer contains stars Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Eight wide receivers caught balls from Dolphins quarterbacks last year, and of those eight, only two remain on the roster for 2026. Those two, Malik Washington and Tahj Washington, picked in the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2024 Draft, respectively, accounted for a combined 49 receptions for 354 yards and three touchdowns last year, with the latter only contributing three catches for 37 yards. This leaves the door open for any of the several newcomers to claim new positions on the depth chart.

In free agency, the Dolphins brought in former Cowboys wideout Jalen Tolbert and former Rams receiver Tutu Atwell. Both players had their best seasons two years ago before experiencing setbacks in 2025, making them conveniently affordable. Tolbert’s best output saw him catch 49 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, while Atwell had 42 receptions for 562 yards that same year. According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, Tolbert has distanced himself above his peers so far in the offseason and should be well on his way to a starting role as a possession receiver in 2026.

Per Kelly’s colleague at the Herald, Barry Jackson, Washington and Tolbert are very likely on track to make the 53-man roster, and Atwell will be a frontrunner in that race, as well. The team drafted three players at the position, though, so the number of roster spots may start to dry up quickly after that. Texas Tech third-rounder Caleb Douglas and Mizzou fifth-rounder Kevin Coleman Jr. are likely guaranteed roster spots as rookies. Louisville third-rounder Chris Bell could be a future WR1 in Miami, but his recovery from a November ACL tear could place him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to start his career.

That puts five wide receivers on the projected 53-man roster. Assuming the team decides to roster six or seven overall, that leaves very little room left on the roster for veteran free agent additions Jalen Reagor and Terrace Marshall Jr., Washington, or undrafted signees Theo Wease Jr., AJ Henning, and Donaven McCulley. Unfortunately for Reagor and Marshall, neither veteran has any guaranteed money included on their contracts, so the Dolphins will have little incentive to keep them if they don’t perform.

As Willis determines to establish himself as the future at the quarterback position in Miami, he will be doing so with a much different group than Dolphins fans saw last year. Former role players Washington, Tolbert, and Atwell will be asked to step into bigger roles for their new starting passer, and the team will be hoping to see its rookie selections outperform their draft stock early to supplement the position group. The remaining spots available will depend on just how healthy Bell is going into the start of the season, and their low-risk veteran options for those spots will need to stand out in order to make the team.