MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins may not have a very good record and they might allow too many quarterback pressures and they might not have proven receivers this season.
But Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan believes that at the end of the 2026 campaign, they'll have a good feel for how good quarterback Malik Willis is ― and can be.
"I know where you're going with the question, it's like, 'do we have enough around him for us to evaluate him?'" Sullivan said in a preseason press conference. "I would say, 'yes, we do.'"
Sullivan brought in Willis, 27, on a three-year deal that essentially guarantees the quarterback money for 2026 and 2027. What are the attributes and what are the evaluation points?
Well, Willis' strengths have become clear
in limited playing time with the Packers last season and in the spring and summer in Miami.
"Malik, I think, is different than most because of the athletic traits he has, the powerful arm," Sullivan said. "I feel very comfortable that as these young players grow with Malik, we'll all see what Malik is."
It's certainly possible Sullivan will have to decide if he uses a top five pick in the next NFL draft on a quarterback. What will he be watching for in 2026?
- "Handle hard times."
- "Making good decisions."
- "Throw the ball accurately and on time."
Everyone knows Willis can be a dynamic runner.
But the Dolphins will be particularly evaluating when he chooses to use his legs.
Miami also wants, obviously, for Willis to limit turnovers.
Sullivan noted a trait that does essentially separate good quarterbacks from very good.
"I think the really good ones tilt the field in their favor, maybe when everything around them is not ideal," Sullivan said. "And I think (Malik) has that kind of ability. Now, time will tell."
Miami Dolphins need Malik Willis to lift his team
Sullivan added that there are certain elements of the evaluation process that may not be so obvious.
"I don't know that you guys (media) will see it the way we see it when we're evaluating," Sullivan said. "Does that make sense? I don't know that the fans, the common fan that's sitting out there, is going to watch what's going on and say, 'this guy's got a chance to be a really good player.' Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. But I think we'll be able to measure that each weekend and week out and see if he's going this way."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan: We have enough talent to evaluate QB
