Miami Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul said there is "no doubt" that Malik Willis will succeed in a big way.
Miami Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul is starting to establish himself as a strong offensive lineman in the NFL, and he now has the job to protect Malik Willis. Willis will be the quarterback under center in Week 1 of the regular season, and all eyes will be on whether the limited starter can be a franchise option.
Paul joined "The Set" with Terron Armstead, where he spoke about the growth he has seen from Willis, indicating there is "no doubt" that the young passer will surprise everyone in 2026.
"Malik, no doubt that he's a baller, and I think it's one of the best-kept secrets in the NFL right now," Paul said. "From what we've seen from OTAs, he's doing his thing. He's learning the offense, learning how to operate. He's doing great, though, and he's already implemented himself as a leader in the locker room, so guys can already look at him in that role."
Paul told Armstead that Willis has already shown his strong leadership through OTAs and minicamp, which is a sentiment that has been echoed by fellow players and head coach Jeff Hafley. It is very important that a quarterback takes on the role of a leader early on, and it appears the former Green Bay Packer signal caller has been doing that in a big way.
Willis was also one of the players who showed up at the rookie minicamp to introduce himself to the young incoming draftees.
On top of showing leadership, Paul also spoke on Willis becoming more vocal each week, and how that is a direct reflection of his growth within the Dolphins system.
"So, I mean, it's definitely going to be great to see this year. I think it's going to be a big surprise to everybody what he does this year ... Yeah, he's vocal. I think as OTAs went on week after week, he's getting more vocal. You know, it just comes with time. So, I think as we go into training camp, too, it's just going to even get more and more and more. So, I'm excited to see," Paul said.
Willis is entering his fifth season in the NFL, but he has been described as a theoretical rookie based on the small sample size in which he has played.
Through those first four seasons, Willis has appeared in 22 games and has had six starts. That is not a lot of action considering it is four full seasons.
Willis was initially drafted by the Tennessee Titans to be their starter, but injuries and inconsistencies saw him struggle to replace Ryan Tannehill. He was then traded to the Packers, where he played as the backup to Jordan Love.
Willis emerged as an intriguing starting prospect due to the skill set he showed when taking over for the injured Love in 2025. The young passer put together 422 yards, three touchdowns, 123 rushing yards, and two touchdowns in four appearances.
Considering Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan also came from the Packers, Willis was connected to the Dolphins early and often. This led to the Miami front office offering him a three-year, $62.5 million deal.
Willis will need to prove he can be the starter in 2026 with a torn-down roster, but there are many veterans like Paul on the team who have seen what the quarterback can do.
Should Willis prove that he is a mid-tier or better starter, the Dolphins could solve one of their biggest issues on the roster now and moving forward. He will have a tough time doing so with the exodus of players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with the second-toughest schedule in the NFL.
Should Willis be able to command the offense and get the Dolphins multiple wins, then his ceiling will be even higher.
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