LANDOVER, MARYLAND ― Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley made the right decision to start Malik Willis in the preseason opener and he made the right decision to pull the quarterback after one series.
Perfect. Perfect all around.
Willis led only one drive but he was on the field for more than seven minutes and he led his team 93 yards and he led a touchdown and it was time to get off the field and away from any Commanders' danger.
Perfectly perfect. OK, so there was one incompletion on five attempts.
But it wasn't even Willis' fault. Rookie Caleb Douglas, who later made a terrific, one-handed, tip-it-in-the-air, deep-ball, circus catch, forgot on one deep out that he's in the NFL now.
That one foot would have been good enough at Texas Tech, but not in Landover, Maryland, against the Washington Commanders of the NFL.
The Dolphins don't have a ton of reasons for hope this season. And they may surely win four of five games.
But can you imagine if they learn Willis is the franchise quarterback they've craved since Dan Marino?
Miami Dolphins news: Malik Willis provides reason for hope
Oh, I know, I know. It was like one series, against a team holding out 10 or so defensive starters.
But do we have to even mention that part?
Willis looked poised. He looked confident. He looked strong-armed.
Willis looked mobile. Throwing on the run. And running to run.
Willis has made steady improvement in Miami Gardens, in the spring and summer practice open to media folks. And it showed on a pleasant summer Friday evening in the Mid-Atlantic.
Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan have repeatedly vouched for Willis. They worked with him in Green Bay and surely the three-year contract was a worthwhile role of the dice.
It's a reasonable contract. And those two believe there is a reasonable chance that Willis is so good - despite being devoid of top receiving weapons - that they won't have a to draft a Top 5 quarterback in 2027.
We'll see. We're a long, long ways from that decision.
Miami Dolphins depth chart: Jeff Hafley wanted starters on field
But it was telling that Hafley wanted Willis on the field in his first game as head coach. The Commanders had no plan to put Jayden Daniels anywhere near anyone in aqua and orange on this night.
Hafley wanted Willis and running back De'Von Achane and the rookie Douglas and the entire offensive line out there to set a positive tone. Miami players and fans alike can go into preseason week 2 with some, well, some hope.
It seems clear already that Miami made the right choice to not simply rolling with Quinn Ewers at quarterback this season. Ewers had a floater of an interception on Friday night. And he needs to perform better than he has so far this offseason.
Hafley said this week that Willis has taken a step forward recently as a team leader.
The Dolphins have legitimate reason to follow Willis from this point forward in 2026.
It's clear he has talent. It will be fun to fund out together just how much.
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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: Malik Willis is lights out in Miami Dolphins debut