The Miami Dolphins may not be able to afford Malik Willis, which could set the team up to go after Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Miami Dolphins are currently in the process of a hard reset, as the team cut three Tyreek Hill and two other veterans. Bradley Chubb is also on the cut list, but that has not formally happened due to the front office likely being undecided on a pre-or-post-June 1 designation.
With a full reset in place, the Dolphins have been attached to Malik Willis as the potential QB1 or 2026, but he is predicted to land a contract somewhere in the $20 million per season range. With an already tough cap situation, that may not be possible, but setting up the team to go after veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
Garoppolo is set to become a free agent, and the Los Angeles Rams may not want to spend more on the aging veteran. Also, with the potential to draft Ty Simpson or another signal caller to be molded under Matthew Stafford, the need for Garoppolo might also not be as deep.
Garoppolo has spent many seasons in the NFL, but he has seven starts in the last three seasons. He could be the kind of bridge veteran quarterback that is needed to drive competition and potentially act as the starter for the 2026 season.
NFL insider Cameron Wolfe has indicated that Garoppolo's name is being tossed out in association with the Dolphins, especially if there is a slim chance they can land Willis.
"Another name I'm told to keep an eye on is Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a lot of experience with their offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik. Maybe he's a less expensive option for them in free agency," Wolfe said.
It would make plenty of sense for the Dolphins to bring in a veteran like Garoppolo. Slowik was on the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2022, serving as an offensive assistant and an offensive pass game specialist.
Slowik was coaching when Garoppolo when he has the best season of his career in 2019. He may want to bring back the veteran to aid in keeping the Dolphins afloat through the 2026 season.
Another major aspect of Garoppolo coming in is to drive the competition for Quinn Ewers. Ewers only got three starts in 2025, and there is still a chance he can emerge as the signal caller running the offense in 2026.
Regardless, the Dolphins will bring in a veteran, and Garoppolo could be the cheap and solid starter or backup needed right now while the front office fixes the cap situation even more.