The Miami Dolphins have been tearing down their roster in a major way this offseason. Tua Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb, Tyreek Hill, James Daniels, and many others have been cut from the team. But that's not all the Dolphins have done.
They traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos and shipped off Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets. All of those moves make their plan fairly clear for 2026: the Dolphins are tanking.
But, as Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox points out, that projected tanking plan brings up a big Malik Willis question. Why did the Dolphins sign Willis if they weren't going to be competitive?
Dolphins' plan for 2026 brings up Malik Willis question
"The question here isn't whether the Dolphins are prepared to tank - they clearly are - but rather why they'd bring in quarterback Malik Willis on a three-year, $67.5 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed."
The Dolphins decided to change up their roster in a major way this offseason, parting with a lot of key veterans, including the team's top-two receivers.
But, despite clearly dismantling the roster to gear up for a major rebuild and tanking for the 2026 season, the Dolphins' signing of Willis looks to be even more strange.
While signing Willis, the top free agent quarterback, to a $45 million guaranteed three-year deal with an out after the 2027 season seems strange in a "tanking" year, there is a good reason for this.
More: Dolphins agree to $67.5 million deal with Malik Willis
During the 2026 NFL season, with the Dolphins' plan to tank, they will still be able to get a good look at what Willis can do, even with lesser receivers.
If he can play well, then the Dolphins might not feel pressured to draft a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. And if he struggles, then they have an easy bridge quarterback in Willis for their new rookie quarterback next year.
The Willis signing isn't hurting the Dolphins in the short-term, but it does provide some upside in the long-term with an out after the second year of his deal, which would happen to coincide with the end of Tagovailoa's contract on their books.
If this Willis signing is a disaster, then the Dolphins would be able to move on from him and the rest of their cuts this offseason for the 2028 offseason.
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