MIAMI GARDENS — Let’s say this up front: the Dolphins don’t have to find their long-term answer at quarterback in 2026. They can push their quarterback search into the 2027 season if there aren’t any good options this year.

And so far there aren’t any good options. I don’t favor signing Green Bay’s Malik Willis to a three- or four-year free-agent contract that gives him, say, $20 million or more a year (likely more). Willis only has six starts in four years. He’s unproven. Plus, Willis, who played for Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley in Green Bay, isn’t guaranteed to win the starting job. That means you’d basically have $20 million of dead money if he’s a backup.

It’d be wise for the Dolphins to push their long-term quarterback decision to 2027. Get a bridge quarterback for 2026. 

In the meantime, use your defense. Recognize that this is time to ride the leaguewide defensive wave of the past two or three years. Acknowledge how bad the quarterback play was in the playoffs, when you typically see the best quarterbacks in the league, and make your defense a weapon, which is what many of the league’s top teams are doing.

Many will vehemently disagree with pushing the quarterback search to 2027. They view the quarterback search as an immediate, must-fix issue regardless of the options. They say get whoever is available, pay him franchise quarterback money, and, magically, then he becomes your next franchise quarterback

Consequently, they’ll convince themselves that Willis is a franchise quarterback with Super Bowl potential because he’s the best option on the market this year.

Committing to Willis in 2026 and beyond pretty much takes the Dolphins out of the running for a quality young quarterback in 2027 because, again, if Willis isn’t your starter his salary is essentially dead money.

You might have seen video of Sullivan talking about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at an event on Thursday, saying the Dolphins are undecided about whether he’ll return.

You know I’m strongly against the Dolphins retaining Tua for a number of reasons, including he’ll restrict your offense/playcalling because he’s immobile and comes with an elevated injury risk. But mainly because the Dolphins must cut ties to the main principals of the Grier-McDaniel-Tua era, meaning ex-general manager Chris Grier, ex-coach Mike McDaniel and Tua.

If the Dolphins forgo the chance to sign a long-term quarterback in 2026, let’s take a quick look at their options the following year.

San Francisco’s Mac Jones is eligible to be a free agent in 2027. So is Houston’s Davis Mills.

But it’s a largely unimpressive group.

Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield will be eligible to be a free agent but it’s doubtful he reaches free agency. The same is true for Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, the league MVP, and Houston’s C.J. Stroud.

The rest of the field potentially includes Carolina’s Bryce Young and Andy Dalton, Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson, Denver’s Jarrett Stidham and Green Bay’s Desmond Ridder, to name a few.

The 2027 draft class is led by Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Texas’ Arch Manning, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, and perhaps Miami’s Darian Mensah.

Perhaps the Dolphins can use the leaguewide defensive trend as leverage in free-agent quarterback negotiations. 

Or, perhaps the Dolphins could use the leaguewide quarterback trends as reason to think they can build their defense and take their time in committing to a long-term quarterback. You see the above examples.

On top of that, quarterback play was bad in the playoffs, and that’s being nice.

Anecdotally, interceptions were up, passer ratings were down, and the number of quarterbacks who completed at least 65 percent of his passes was ridiculously low.

In the 2025 playoffs, quarterbacks had 42 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Two quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or above. Only one quarterback completed at least 65 percent of his passes.

In the 2024 playoffs quarterbacks had 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Seven quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or above. Eight quarterbacks completed at least 65 percent of their passes.

In the 2023 playoffs quarterbacks had 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Eight quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or above. Eight quarterbacks completed at least 65 percent of their passes. 

In the 2022 playoffs quarterbacks had 42 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Four quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or above. Seven quarterbacks completed at least 65 percent of their passes.

Yeah, quarterback play in the 2025 playoffs was bad.

New England quarterback Drake Maye had seven fumbles in the postseason and lost four. He had four fumbles, losing two, in the Patriots’ 28-16 divisional playoff win over Houston.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions in that New England playoff loss. The week before, Stroud had five fumbles, losing two, in a 30-6 playoff victory against Pittsburgh.

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had four turnovers (two interceptions, two lost fumbles) in the Bills’ 33-30 overtime divisional playoff loss against Denver.

Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, who dazzled at times, had four touchdowns and five interceptions in two playoff games.

If I’m the Dolphins, my training camp quarterbacks would include returnee Quinn Ewers, a rookie draftee (no later than the third round) and a veteran with starting experience (Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins?).

While that’s going on, I’m building my defense and the trenches, which is a big part of the winning formula in the future. And I’m pushing my long-term quarterback solution back to 2027.