Draft QB Focus: Dolphins must consider adding another QB
No matter who was in charge, the Miami Dolphins franchise have been terrified of quarterback competition for nearly two decades, and that might explain why South Florida’s NFL franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.
With the exception of the week Ryan Tannehill competed with Matt Moore for the starting spot in 2012, the franchise hasn’t had a legitimate quarterback competition since 2008. That was when Chad Henne, Josh McCown and John Beck competed for training camp, only to be upstaged by Chad Pennington’s late signing.
The Dolphins would benefit from that type of camp battle in this franchise restart because it would set the right tone for an organization that has possessed a soft reputation for years.
If there was ever a time to select a quarterback in the first two days of the NFL Draft, it’s now because the franchise is starting fresh, being rebuilt with young talent, and despite the offseason addition of Malik Willis, there isn’t a proven NFL starter currently on the roster.
And what happens to the team if Willis, who is a scrambler, sustains an injury that sidelines him for multiple games?
Slow-cooking a young quarterback for a few seasons is the Green Bay way, and that’s where Miami’s decision makers come from.
Top 5 prospects
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza: Mendoza has everything NFL teams are looking for. He’s big, athletic, makes good decisions, throws the ball accurately, is a vocal leader, and is a multiyear starter who won at the highest level.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson: Simpson can layer the ball with touch and anticipation all over the field, and has adequate zip on the ball. Simpson’s inconsistency, and his performance late in the season sounded some alarms that will likely keep him out of the first round. If he’s not a top 32 pick he won’t last long in day two of the draft.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier: Nessmeier, the son of a coach, flashes the ability to throw with accuracy and anticipation, but struggles to make sound decisions with the football at times. His toughness is admirable, but he’s undersized (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) and needs to get tougher physically and mentally.
Penn State’s Drew Allar: Allar’s combination of size, arm strength and athleticism led most to believe he would become a first-round level talent in this draft. But he struggled with decision-making, and his accuracy is spotty. A team that wants a quarterback to sit and learn will likely target him in Day 2 or early in Day 3.
North Dakota State’s Cole Payton: Payton is a southpaw slinger, who has impressive scrambling traits. He won’t be for everybody because he’s raw from a fundamental standpoint, but his combination of size, athleticism and arm talent will get him taken early in Day 3.
Best of the rest: Arkansas’ Taylen Green is an athletic freak of nature, but his inconsistent play makes him a significant risk-reward talent. Miami’s Carson Beck completed a school-record 74.3% of his passes, which hints he clearly has exceptional ball placement skills. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is a small, but athletic signal-caller who can extend plays. Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson has arm talent, but needs work on his mechanics.
Class Grade: D
While Mendoza will likely be the first overall selection, the Heisman Trophy winner is far from a clean prospect. If he has a Matt Ryan-like career whatever team selects him will be happy. The rest of this quarterback class features plenty of dice rolls. Every single one of these prospects has a glaring wart that could make them a bust. But like most years, there will likely be a gem taken in the late rounds, or a player who goes undrafted that will surprise people.
Teams in need: Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Browns, Chiefs, Dolphins, Rams, Ravens, Buccaneers, Panthers, Steelers, Falcons, Packers and Colts
Dolphins focus: Despite signing Willis to a three-year deal that guarantees him $45 million over the first two seasons, the Dolphins would benefit from drafting a quarterback to compete with the inexperienced former Packers backup, and Quinn Ewers, a 2025 seventh-round pick who started three games last season. Head coach Jeff Hafley has expressed a preference for athletic quarterbacks, and this draft only possesses a few. With 11 selections in 2026 there’s no better time to select a quarterback early and slow cook him Green Bay style for a couple of seasons.
