Early 2027 mock drafts already project Miami using the top overall pick on a quarterback to eventually replace Malik Willis, who signed a three-year contract worth $67.5 million with $45 million guaranteed this offseason.
Former Dolphins guard Richie Incognito, now co-host of the Initial Contact podcast, shared his thoughts on the plan in an interview. He emphasized that addressing the roster as a whole is essential before adding a quarterback, noting the need for a strong offensive line and playmakers on the outside who can stretch the field and ease quarterback responsibilities. In his view, simply changing the quarterback wouldn’t solve the broader issues.
Willis has completed 56.2% of his passes for 849 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions. His top targets are Malik Washington and rookie contributors Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas, while De’Von Achane is out for the year due to a torn ACL. While the stats belong to Willis, the surrounding roster explains a large portion of the results.
Incognito pointed out that Willis’s performance is influenced heavily by the roster around him, which he described as having significant holes and even noted that considerable money was still tied up in players who are no longer with the team. He suggested that a quarterback change wouldn’t automatically fix the problems.
Head coach Jeff Hafley has remained steadfast with Willis through all five losses, stating that Willis is the team’s quarterback and that improvements are needed from both Willis and the roster.
Can the Dolphins avoid a winless season? Their most recent defeats came by five points at Minnesota and seven at home against Cincinnati. The team returns to action on October 25 at 1 p.m. ET against the New York Jets (the first of two matchups with the Jets this season). The Chargers, who are also off to a 0-5 start, visit Hard Rock Stadium on December 27. The upcoming slate features three games against opponents with a combined record of 2-8, offering a potential path to a breakthrough if the roster and quarterback play can align.
Incognito offered a cautious outlook, acknowledging the difficulty of predicting wins in a long NFL season but expressing optimism that a victory could come somewhere along the way, albeit with many challenges remaining ahead.
Related topics exploring quarterback development, roster construction, and strategic corrections in the league continue to be of interest for fans following teams navigating early-season struggles.
