Miami Dolphins OTAs 2026: New Coach Jeff Hafley and Quarterback Malik Willis Chart a Rebuild in South Florida

The Miami Dolphins are deep into their 2026 organized team activities, providing the South Florida franchise's first sustained look at the offense and culture being built by first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. With a new starting quarterback in Malik Willis and a roster that has been substantially retooled at the receiver and tight end positions, Dolphins fans and analysts are watching Phase 3 of the offseason program for early signals about what the team will look like when meaningful football returns in the fall.

Jeff Hafley Takes Command

Hafley, who arrived in Miami this offseason as part of a front-office-driven effort to install a new identity after the Dolphins' disappointing recent seasons, has structured Phase 3 of his offseason program around establishing culture, communication, and competitive expectations before the team reaches training camp. Phase 3 allows for seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 team drills without live contact, giving coaches their first extended look at how players interact in team settings and how the offensive and defensive systems translate from the drawing board to the practice field.

Hafley has emphasized that the Dolphins' 2026 offseason is about building a foundation that differs meaningfully from what preceded it. That message appears to have resonated with veterans and young players alike, though the true test of any new coaching philosophy comes when the regular season begins and the degree of difficulty rises. The Dolphins have finished recent seasons below expectations relative to their talent level, a pattern Hafley has said he is determined to reverse.

Malik Willis Steps Into the Spotlight

The most closely watched story at the Dolphins' facility in Davie this spring is Malik Willis, who takes over as Miami's starting quarterback following a transition that leaves the position in the hands of an unproven commodity entering his age-26 season. Willis has shown athletic potential in his limited NFL opportunities to date but has yet to demonstrate sustained ability to run a complex NFL offense consistently. Coaches and teammates have spoken positively about his work ethic and intelligence, while being careful not to overstate what can be learned from non-contact OTA practice.

Willis is operating with a receiving corps and tight end room that has been significantly revamped around him. Miami made multiple moves in free agency and the draft to address the offensive skill positions, and the reshaping means that Willis is learning the offense alongside many of his intended targets simultaneously. Veteran presence at key positions will be critical to accelerating the learning process for a quarterback whose development under live-fire conditions will be one of the central storylines of the Dolphins' 2026 season.

Running back De'Von Achane, who signed a four-year extension worth up to $68 million and provides one of the offense's most proven weapons, has been a presence at OTAs though not a full participant due to what team personnel have described as precautionary management of his workload. Achane is one of the more explosive players in the NFL when healthy, and protecting him through the summer to ensure he is fully prepared for the regular season is a priority the organization has been transparent about.

Defensive Line Building Blocks

On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins have been evaluating what their second-year defensive linemen can contribute in 2026. Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, and Zeek Biggers are three names the team has highlighted as players capable of making significant developmental jumps in their sophomore seasons after being drafted or signed to provide depth and upside along the interior defensive line.

Calijah Kancey, another member of the Dolphins' defensive front who has flashed pass-rush ability when healthy, is among the players whose health status and readiness will bear watching as the offseason program advances. Teams typically become more cautious about discussing specific injury situations during OTAs to avoid giving opponents advance information, but the broad shape of the Dolphins' defensive line room will become clearer as training camp approaches.

Roster Moves and Depth Building

The Dolphins have continued active roster management into the OTA period. Miami hosted veteran running back Zamir White for a workout, reflecting ongoing efforts to solidify the depth of the backfield behind Achane. The running back room saw some churn earlier in the offseason when undrafted free agent signee Le'Veon Moss retired, and the team has added Anthony Hankerson and Carlos Washington as depth options with different skill profiles.

Miami's 2026 NFL schedule, which was released in mid-May, presents a mix of early-season challenges and tests later in the year that will define the season's playoff prospects. The Dolphins are aware that the AFC East remains competitive, with the Bills, Patriots, and Jets all undergoing their own offseason transitions, and that the NFC and AFC conference landscape has shifted enough that the path to the playoffs requires strong performance from the season's opening weeks.

Expectations for the Season Ahead

The realistic expectations for the 2026 Miami Dolphins are shaped by the magnitude of change the franchise is navigating simultaneously. A new head coach, a new starting quarterback, and a substantially rebuilt skill position group represent a high degree of uncertainty relative to teams returning experienced starters in key roles. Analysts project the Dolphins as a team with clear upside if Willis develops quickly and Hafley's system finds traction, but also genuine downside risk if the quarterback situation creates inconsistency or if injuries deplete the newly assembled skill position corps.

For a franchise and fan base that has yearned for stability at quarterback and a clear offensive identity since the departure of the previous regime, OTAs are the earliest opportunity to assess whether the new direction has promise. The limited contact of the spring program means conclusions must be tentative, but the culture, communication, and on-field execution visible during this phase will inform how optimistically or skeptically the preseason should be approached.

What Is Next

The Dolphins will conclude their OTA schedule and move into mandatory minicamp, which provides additional evaluation opportunities under NFL rules that require players to participate. After the minicamp break, training camp opens at the team's Nova Southeastern University facility in Davie ahead of the preseason schedule. The preseason games, including road matchups against the Jets and Jaguars sandwiching a home game against the Chiefs, will provide the first live-contact game evaluation of the new Dolphins under Hafley and Willis.