The Miami Dolphins took a risk when they signed quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in March. While he may have been the best QB on the market and looked good playing for the Green Bay Packers, he started just one game for Green Bay last season and has only six career NFL starts to his name.
At $22.5 million per year, it’s a notable investment in a player who has yet to firmly establish himself as a long-term option under center, even if that figure remains well below what most other starting quarterbacks make.
The Dolphins haven’t exactly set him up for success, either, with the team still lacking an elite wide receiver. According to Willis, though, the lack of a clear WR1 is exactly what makes the unit dangerous. “It’s a different dude every day, and I think that competition in that room is making them better,” Willis said on a recent episode of the “4th and South” podcast. “You start off with a couple dudes making plays and then the next few days a couple more dudes are making plays … You get a name by working hard and putting it on tape.”
Miami’s current depth chart lists Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Caleb Douglas as the team’s top three receivers, followed by players like Tutu Atwell, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. The issue is that three of those players are rookies (Douglas, Bell, and Coleman) and the other three (Washington, Tolbert, and Atwell) have never been the No. 1 option in an NFL offense.
There’s a reason veteran tight end Greg Dulcich is considered a breakout candidate — he’s the only proven, established option of the group.
Still, there’s something to be said for the versatility of this young receiving corps. Washington is a dynamic, 5-foot-8 gadget weapon, Tolbert is the reliable route-running veteran, and Atwell brings elite vertical speed. All three rookies have generated hype this offseason as well, particularly Douglas, a physical 6-foot-4 receiver out of Texas Tech whom the team selected in the third round (No. 75 overall) of the draft.
While none of them are household names yet, their diverse skill sets could present a dangerous “pick your poison” problem for opposing defenses. Now it’s on Willis to make the most of it.