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There might be a multitude of players who need to have a strong season on the Miami Dolphins roster, but there are others who could see their opportunities shrink in a sizable way if they do not perform well.
That said, here are three players who need a big 2026 season.
Chop Robinson had a strong 2024 season, as his rookie year led to six sacks and a Defensive Rookie of the Year nomination. However, he has since slipped in production.
The good news is Jeff Hafley indicated his excitement to mold and work with Robinson on his pass rush skills, which could end up paying dividends. That said, the young linebacker will need to step things up or he may be replaced by a younger counterpart.
During the 2024 season, Robinson had an 18.8 pass rush win rate percentage, which dropped to just eight percent in 2025. It may have been his lack of trust, as he appeared in 15 games and only started three.
Whatever the case was, that is a thing of the past, and he gets a clean slate with Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan. If he cannot adjust and show some elevation to his game, the lack of opportunities won't be an excuse to use.
Guard Jonah Savaiinaea had one of the worst rookie seasons, as he was the worst-rated guard in the NFL. Per Pro Football Focus, the lineman was hit with a horrific 28.4 overall grade.
Savaiinaea also gave up eight sacks and committed five penalties. The good news is he can only go up from here, and his fellow linemen teammates have stated that his growth from Year 1 to 2 has been evident thus far.
Savaiinaea is also moving from the left guard position to the right, which is where he mostly played in college. The move should help strengthen his chances of shaking off the 2025 season.
Malik Willis might be the most obvious top choice on this list, simply due to the trust and faith that the Dolphins are placing in him. He was awarded a three-year, $62.5 million deal with the hopes that he could become a franchise answer for the team.
Willis only has six starts in his NFL career, but the young passer showed what he is capable of when he took over for the injured Jordan Love in 2025.
Willis can gun the ball downfield while also picking up chunk yardage with his legs. If he can showcase the same kind of skills for the Dolphins, they will have the kind of dual-threat quarterback they have not had in years.
Should Willis fail to meet expectations, he is likely to be replaced sooner rather than later, with Miami potentially going after a top prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Continue reading...
That said, here are three players who need a big 2026 season.
3. Chop Robinson
Chop Robinson had a strong 2024 season, as his rookie year led to six sacks and a Defensive Rookie of the Year nomination. However, he has since slipped in production.
The good news is Jeff Hafley indicated his excitement to mold and work with Robinson on his pass rush skills, which could end up paying dividends. That said, the young linebacker will need to step things up or he may be replaced by a younger counterpart.
During the 2024 season, Robinson had an 18.8 pass rush win rate percentage, which dropped to just eight percent in 2025. It may have been his lack of trust, as he appeared in 15 games and only started three.
Whatever the case was, that is a thing of the past, and he gets a clean slate with Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan. If he cannot adjust and show some elevation to his game, the lack of opportunities won't be an excuse to use.
2. Jonah Savaiinaea
Guard Jonah Savaiinaea had one of the worst rookie seasons, as he was the worst-rated guard in the NFL. Per Pro Football Focus, the lineman was hit with a horrific 28.4 overall grade.
Savaiinaea also gave up eight sacks and committed five penalties. The good news is he can only go up from here, and his fellow linemen teammates have stated that his growth from Year 1 to 2 has been evident thus far.
Savaiinaea is also moving from the left guard position to the right, which is where he mostly played in college. The move should help strengthen his chances of shaking off the 2025 season.
1. Malik Willis
Malik Willis might be the most obvious top choice on this list, simply due to the trust and faith that the Dolphins are placing in him. He was awarded a three-year, $62.5 million deal with the hopes that he could become a franchise answer for the team.
Willis only has six starts in his NFL career, but the young passer showed what he is capable of when he took over for the injured Jordan Love in 2025.
Willis can gun the ball downfield while also picking up chunk yardage with his legs. If he can showcase the same kind of skills for the Dolphins, they will have the kind of dual-threat quarterback they have not had in years.
Should Willis fail to meet expectations, he is likely to be replaced sooner rather than later, with Miami potentially going after a top prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Continue reading...
