Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis’ chemistry with WRs ‘a work in progress’
Ever since the Miami Dolphins traded Jalen Waddle, there’s been one question on every fan’s mind.
Who will emerge as new quarterback Malik Willis’ biggest pass-catching threat?
And while tight end Greg Dulcich as well as wide receiver Malik Washington have been great, coach Jeff Hafley revealed the chemistry still remains a “work in progress.”
“We’ve had six practices with limited reps, so I just think it’s going to take time,” Hafley said Tuesday morning. “I think it’s improved. I just, it’s going to be a work of progress, and it’s going to take a lot of reps, just like it would with any quarterback and wide receiver group. And then you add in that we got in a lot of young wideouts that just came in.”
Added Hafley: “It’s going to take time [to find] the rhythm.”
Hafley was then subsequently asked if any wideout stood out. Although the coach said he didn’t come “in with any expectations” because what he ultimately wanted to see was improvement, he did list a few guys including Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert.
“I think that’s a group that I want to see who can continue to get better, learn the offense, run routes, what their skill set is,” Hafley said. “Whether it’s Malik in the slot, I think he’s done a really good job. I think he’s getting better as a route runner. A guy like Tolbert can move him around and do a lot of different things with him. Just from those guys, just in general, it’s just going to be improvement and we’ll tell in training camp.”
As mandatory minicamp officially gets underway, there aren’t a plethora of changes from voluntary organized training activities (OTAs) that have taken place during the last few weeks. What Hafley will ultimately look for, however, will be a certain level of crispness in execution.
“The only thing different in mini camp is we’re going to meet with them in the afternoon and watch tape,” Hafley said. “Now what I’ve said to both sides of the ball, we’ve had a lot of install. So for these three days, I kind of want to go back and pull from the early installs and not continue to add at this point.
“Let’s not add at this point, let’s just repeat some stuff, so these guys can do it again,” Hafley continued, adding that the Dolphins will do more “team combined” drills. “If I’m going to ask the guys to repeat installs for the second time, and it won’t be the first time they’re doing it. I want to see who can retain and who can execute at a high level. You want to see the chemistry, the chemistry on both sides of the football, the communication, and just a higher level of execution. We’ve got them to the point right now where I told them today, I love the way they’re practicing, the way they’re running to the ball, the way they’re competing, the energy that they’re practicing with, just the way they’re running from drill to drill. I kind of feel good about the structure of that.
“And I don’t think because it’s minicamp. I think because it’s a further weekend, and next week, I hope it’s even better. I want to see the execution get better. I want to see who can take what we’ve done over the past, however many weeks, and improve. I think that’s going to be really important.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 10:50 AM.
