Why the Miami Dolphins Could Surprise the NFL in 2026

Nobody in the NFL world is expecting the Miami Dolphins to move the needle much in 2026.

To be fair, this absolutely looks like a franchise entering a multi-year rebuild, tearing everything down to the studs so it can eventually become something competitive a few years down the line. They moved on from a long list of big-name veterans, including Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

But every year, there are teams expected to dwell in the NFL basement who surprise us, and the Dolphins could be this year's version after making some key offseason investments that could make them more competitive than expected in the short-term.

Don't Sleep On Malik Willis

Most (if not all) teams go as their quarterback goes, and while most might consider Malik Willis little more than your usual veteran bridge starter, a closer look shows a talented playmaker just now entering his prime who's ready to take full advantage of his second chance at the top of an NFL depth chart.

A third-round pick out of Liberty in 2022, Willis started his college career at Auburn, and talent has never been an issue. He's always had NFL-level arm talent, and the athleticism to threaten opposing defenses as a runner. What Willis needed was refinement as a passer, particularly from the pocket, something that wasn't easy to develop when he was thrown into the fire as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans.

After barely seeing the field in 2023, Willis was traded to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round draft pick. In limited work over the past two seasons, Willis looked like a quarterback who has smoothed out those rough edges in his game, and become a more consistent passer.

Willis appeared in 11 games over two seasons in Tennessee, with three starts. He just happened to appear in the same amount of games, with the same amount of starts, over two years in Green Bay. The statistical differences couldn't be more stark:

• TEN: 35-for-66 (53 percent), no touchdown passes, three interceptions
• GB: 70-for-89 (78.7 percent), six touchdown passes, no interceptions

He was even more impactful as a runner in Green Bay, rushing for 261 yards and three scores compared to 144 yards and just one score in Tennessee.

The Dolphins gave Willis far more than the usual one-year investment in a veteran bridge starter, signing him to a three-year deal worth up to $67.5 million, with $45 million in guaranteed money. That basically guarantees the first two years of the deal at $22.5 million per season.

That's the kind of investment a team makes when they're banking on the upside of a player, not when they're planning on tanking to draft his replacement a year later.

Dolphins Paid to Keep Offensive Cornerstones

Not all of Miami's big-name talent was shown the door this offseason.

The Dolphins spent big money to retain a pair of foundational players on offense, signing running back De'Von Achane and offensive lineman Aaron Brewer to multi-year contract extensions.

Achane got a four-year extension worth $68 million, while Brewer got a three-year deal that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid centers.

Lightning in a bottle as an offensive playmaker, Achane's explosiveness and versatility makes him one of the most dangerous weapons in the entire league when the ball's in his hands. Over his three seasons in Miami so far, Achane has racked up more than 4,300 yards of total offense, scoring 22 times on the ground and 13 more times through the air.

Achane's presence as a runner will help keep the offense balanced and prevent opposing defenses from keying on Willis and the pass game, while his skills as a receiver out of the backfield will be invaluable to Willis after the catch.

Brewer is the perfect combination of physical talent and mental prowess, checking all the boxes every NFL team wants to have at such an important position. He stabilizes the entire offense with his presence at center, making the right checks at the line of scrimmage and making sure all 11 players are in the right place before the snap.

His combination of athleticism and strength makes Brewer a fantastic anchor for Miami's entire offensive line, and his presence should help the entire unit be able to attack on the ground and through the air at a high level.

Even with the exodus of so many marquee players, Miami's offense still has more than enough talent to challenge opposing defenses in multiple ways this season, thanks in large part to their commitment to keep two of their most important players in-house with big raises this offseason.

New, Returning Talent Bolster Miami's 2026 Ceiling

Achane and Brewer aren't the only high-end veterans returning to Miami this season.

Jordyn Brooks is one of the best off-ball linebackers in the game, and Zach Sieler is a reliable presence along the interior of the defensive line. First-rounder Chop Robinson showed tons of promise as a rookie pass rusher last season, and should be an even better version of himself in Year 2.

Then there's the Dolphins' massive 2026 NFL Draft class, which features 13 members with tons of upside on both sides of the ball.

In the first round, Miami added a rare talent in Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor, who has limiteless potential at both guard and tackle thanks to a ridiculous combination of size, power and athleticism. He was joined as a first-rounder by San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, a polished and pro-ready cover man who instantly becomes the most talented defensive back on the roster. Johnson was the No. 16 overall player on my board, and the Dolphins stole him with the No. 30 overall pick.

Miami used their massive quantity of draft picks to throw multiple selections at different positions, bolstering their immediate depth and future starting lineup at both linebacker and wide receiver. Landing Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriquez in the second round was a huge win for Jeff Hafley's defense, and stealing Pitt's Kyle Louis in the fourth round was just unfair. Both players have high-end starter potential with big-play ability that should make a huge impact right away.

At wide receiver, the Dolphins drafted a trio of high-upside talents with varying skill sets that should each contribute to a much deeper group to help out Willis this season. Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas brings an intriguing blend of height, length, and straight-line speed to challenge opposing defenses over the top, while Missouri's Kevin Coleman Jr. is an undersized but explosive playmaker who can stretch the field over the top and after the catch.

Louisville's Chris Bell could end up being one of the best value picks of the entire draft, as a borderline first-round talent who lasted all the way until the third round because of a torn ACL that cost him the latter part of last season, as well as the entire predraft process. Bell's unique blend of size, strength, athleticism and versatility should make him a valuable weapon if he can stay healthy.

Preseason Expectations Are Too Low

From Super Bowl odds to early mock drafts, every preseason prediction has the Dolphins in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft as arguably the worst team in the entire league.

But barring significant injuries to multiple key players, the Dolphins simply have too much talent returning, and too many promising players added this offseason, to finish in the bottom of the NFL barrel this season.

If Willis plays a full season anywhere near the same efficiency and effectiveness we saw from him in Green Bay over the last two seasons, the veterans hold their ground with their typical level of play, and the deep rookie class delivers periodic flashes of their promising talent, the Dolphins will be a tough out for plenty of teams on their 2026 schedule.

If they finish closer to .500 than the top of next year's draft board, don't be shocked.

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 5:01 AM.