{"id":927694,"date":"2026-06-24T16:51:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/927694\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T16:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:51:36","slug":"judging-miami-dolphins-malik-willis-in-2026-should-account-for-this-reclamation-quarterbacks-recent-comments-about-player-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/927694\/","title":{"rendered":"Judging Miami Dolphins’ Malik Willis in 2026 should account for this reclamation quarterback’s recent comments about player development"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the NFL\u2019s most successful reclamation project sheds some light on what you can (and can\u2019t) learn on the bench \u2014 how does it impact our judgement of Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis?<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The expectations for the Miami Dolphins<\/a> in 2026, externally, are low. But inside the building, you do get the sense that the team feels like they have some really strong pieces to build around. <\/p>\n

Based on their financial decisions, that would appear to include quarterback Malik Willis. Willis, a former third-round draft choice who spent two seasons in Tennessee and then the last two in Green Bay as a backup, has been tabbed as \u2018the guy\u2019 by Miami\u2019s\u2019 new leadership. It cannot be overstated how big of a deal it would be if Willis hits. But judging his play amid a massive roster and salary cap overhaul in 2026 could be complicated. Assessing Willis\u2019 play deserves nuance and patience.<\/a> But it doesn\u2019t absolve him from a certain standard thanks to his two years in Green Bay. That\u2019s even more evident after hearing the most successful quarterback reclamation of recent memory, Sam Darnold, talk about what he learned from just one year on the bench. <\/p>\n

Expectations for Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis in 2026 should include Sam Darnold\u2019s thoughts on player development<\/p>\n

Sam Darnold on his time with the 49ers <\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I got my PhD in football when I went to San Francisco. That was such a blessing for me to learn from Kyle, Brian Griese, The Kubiaks, Klay and Klint. And then to To be able to, not only learn from Brock, I\u2019ve talked about\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/7OfQFxUYWO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) June 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I got my PhD in football when I went to San Francisco. That was such a blessing for me to learn from Kyle, Brian Griese, the Kubiaks, Klay and Klint. And then to be able to, not only learn from Brock\u2026but like all the great players that are over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold on \u2018Bussin\u2019 With The Boys\u2019
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Now, Malik Willis didn\u2019t play in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and others. But he played for another one of the league\u2019s most revered play-callers in Matt LaFleur, who runs a different branch of the Shanahan coaching tree. And he played behind starting quarterback Jordan Love, who has proven himself a successful starter. While sharing the field with an emergent tight end in Tucker Kraft and a deep (but young) wide receiver room. <\/p>\n

Willis deserves grace and patience amid his first full-time starting gig. But the football world is well within their right to expect a certain baseline for Willis. That should be that he looks like an NFL starter. Darnold threw 46 passes (130 total snaps) in live action during his one year in San Francisco, which brought him his \u2018PhD in football\u2019. He hardly played at all. But he absorbed the game in a way that allowed him to grow and unlock his physical potential. <\/p>\n

Why can\u2019t Willis\u2019 two years of time in Green Bay, even if his sample size of actual game reps is small, do the same? It should. Let\u2019s not expect Sam Darnold in Minnesota or Seattle numbers for Willis in 2026. I\u2019m not sure Miami has that kind of weaponry just yet. But we should absolutely expect that the lessons he learned while playing (and, more importantly, not playing) for the Packers over the last two seasons are lessons he\u2019s carrying with him now. <\/p>\n

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Miami Dolphins News<\/p>\n