Miami’s quarterback discussion starts with Jon-Eric Sullivan’s plan for Malik Willis. In his interview with Kevin Clark on This Is Football, Sullivan explained that Willis’s three-year contract gives the Dolphins an opportunity to put multiple draft classes around him and become more active in free agency in 2027 and 2028. That suggests patience and investment in the supporting cast, though it doesn't rule out drafting a quarterback.
Sullivan’s Green Bay background also offers clues about the prospects Miami might consider. Quarterbacks selected during his time there, including Brian Brohm, B.J. Coleman, Brett Hundley, Jordan Love, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, suggest a preference for adequate size, NFL-caliber arm talent, functional mobility and meaningful college experience. Those are working preferences, not confirmed minimum requirements, and the picks varied considerably in their strengths and intended roles.
I value arm talent and experience most, then look at accuracy, processing, and decision-making to separate prospects. These are my overall rankings; the Dolphins fit considers whether each player also makes sense within Sullivan’s roster-building plan. The comparisons describe traits and possible styles of play, rather than guaranteed career outcomes.
1. Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 215 lbs | Class: Redshirt sophomore
High-end comparison: Josh Allen | Restrained comparison: Drew Lock
Watch Mestemaker’s highlights, and Josh Allen comes to mind - the number and appearance certainly help. His arm talent, ability to throw from different platforms, and mobility make the comparison feel earned. He is my QB1, but below the elite quarterback prospects of recent years. His biggest issue is “arm arrogance”: he believes he can fit the ball anywhere, sometimes overlooking underneath defenders or forcing unnecessary throws. Limited starting experience and inconsistent accuracy add uncertainty.
For Miami, the physical tools fit, but the experience is less convincing. I would need greater confidence in his projection to redirect a premium pick toward a potential Willis replacement. I'd prefer to strengthen the supporting cast or explore a trade back.
2. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 210 lbs | Class: Sixth-year senior
High-end comparison: Prime Russell Wilson | Restrained comparison: Kyler Murray
Chambliss’s arm talent is undeniable, but his improvisation makes him especially intriguing. Escaping pressure, keeping his eyes downfield, and creating throwing opportunities are difficult abilities to find. He also brings meaningful experience and a history of efficient play. My main concern is the increase in interceptions: he has already thrown four more than last season. Lacy’s absence and the transition away from Lane Kiffin’s offense could contribute, but they do not excuse poor decisions.
For Miami, his arm, mobility, and experience appeal, though his smaller frame differs from what we infer Sullivan prefers. An early selection would require conviction that he offers a significant long-term upgrade over Willis.
3. Darian Mensah (Miami)
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 lbs | Class: Redshirt junior
High-end comparison: Joe Burrow | Restrained comparison: Teddy Bridgewater
I see Mensah as a game manager, and I mean that as a compliment. His anticipation, accuracy, and touch keep an offense moving, while experience and composure strengthen his projection. Chambliss’s stronger arm gives him the edge in my rankings. Mensah has less margin for late throws; his deep placement becomes less consistent when he strains for power, and his pocket ball security needs improvement. The Burrow comparison reflects his potential for precision and processing.
For Miami, he offers a developed passing foundation and functional mobility. However, I would need stronger conviction in his upside to favor an early investment over improving the roster around Willis.
4. CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 215 lbs | Class: Redshirt sophomore
High-end comparison: Brock Purdy | Restrained comparison: Alex Smith
Carr’s processing, quick release, and command make him my QB4. He shows anticipation and touch, with enough mobility to extend plays. Mensah ranks higher because I trust his accuracy more, and he has more experience carrying a passing offense. Carr’s average arm strength makes timing especially important. His movement accuracy and tendency to create unnecessary negative plays need improvement. He closes my top tier; the quarterbacks behind him require more developmental projection.
For Miami, his passing foundation is attractive, but his shorter starting résumé adds uncertainty. I would need greater conviction in his upside to justify an early pick within Sullivan’s plan around Willis.
5. Austin Simmons - Missouri
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 lbs | Class: Redshirt junior
High-end comparison: Justin Herbert | Restrained comparison: Drew Lock
Simmons’s arm talent earns him the final spot in my top five. He generates impressive velocity and can attack difficult windows, while showing anticipation and touch beyond simply throwing hard. The Herbert comparison reflects his size and passing tools, but his limited starting experience leaves considerable projection. He sometimes relies on his arm to rescue late reads, and his timing under pressure needs improvement. Like Lock, he could struggle to turn impressive flashes into dependable execution if those issues persist.
For Miami, his size and arm fit parts of Sullivan’s inferred preferences, but experience remains a concern. I would need more consistent evidence of his processing and accuracy before supporting an early investment while Miami builds around Willis.
Late-Round Dolphins Target: Conner Weigman - Houston
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 lbs | Class: Redshirt senior
Weigman interests me because he combines size, arm talent, functional mobility, and meaningful starting experience. Improved production and ball security strengthen his case, although placement, mechanics, and injury history deserve scrutiny. If he's available in the sixth or seventh round, he could compete with McCord without forcing a premium pick away from supporting Willis. Continued improvement could push him beyond that price range.
Other options worth studying include Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Jordan Cooke (Idaho State), and Ty Pennington (Northern Arizona).
Miami’s quarterback discussion starts with Jon-Eric Sullivan’s plan for Malik Willis. In his interview with Kevin Clark on This Is Football, Sullivan explained that Willis’s three-year contract gives the Dolphins an opportunity to put multiple draft classes around him and become more active in free agency in 2027 and 2028. That suggests patience and investment in the supporting cast, though it doesn't rule out drafting a quarterback.
Sullivan’s Green Bay background also offers clues about the prospects Miami might consider. Quarterbacks selected during his time there, including Brian Brohm, B.J. Coleman, Brett Hundley, Jordan Love, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt, suggest a preference for adequate size, NFL-caliber arm talent, functional mobility and meaningful college experience. Those are working preferences, not confirmed minimum requirements, and the picks varied considerably in their strengths and intended roles.
I value arm talent and experience most, then look at accuracy, processing, and decision-making to separate prospects. These are my overall rankings; the Dolphins fit considers whether each player also makes sense within Sullivan’s roster-building plan. The comparisons describe traits and possible styles of play, rather than guaranteed career outcomes.
1. Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 215 lbs | Class: Redshirt sophomore
High-end comparison: Josh Allen | Restrained comparison: Drew Lock
Watch Mestemaker’s highlights, and Josh Allen comes to mind - the number and appearance certainly help. His arm talent, ability to throw from different platforms, and mobility make the comparison feel earned. He is my QB1, but below the elite quarterback prospects of recent years. His biggest issue is “arm arrogance”: he believes he can fit the ball anywhere, sometimes overlooking underneath defenders or forcing unnecessary throws. Limited starting experience and inconsistent accuracy add uncertainty.
For Miami, the physical tools fit, but the experience is less convincing. I would need greater confidence in his projection to redirect a premium pick toward a potential Willis replacement. I'd prefer to strengthen the supporting cast or explore a trade back.
2. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 210 lbs | Class: Sixth-year senior
High-end comparison: Prime Russell Wilson | Restrained comparison: Kyler Murray
Chambliss’s arm talent is undeniable, but his improvisation makes him especially intriguing. Escaping pressure, keeping his eyes downfield, and creating throwing opportunities are difficult abilities to find. He also brings meaningful experience and a history of efficient play. My main concern is the increase in interceptions: he has already thrown four more than last season. Lacy’s absence and the transition away from Lane Kiffin’s offense could contribute, but they do not excuse poor decisions.
For Miami, his arm, mobility, and experience appeal, though his smaller frame differs from what we infer Sullivan prefers. An early selection would require conviction that he offers a significant long-term upgrade over Willis.
3. Darian Mensah (Miami)
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 205 lbs | Class: Redshirt junior
High-end comparison: Joe Burrow | Restrained comparison: Teddy Bridgewater
I see Mensah as a game manager, and I mean that as a compliment. His anticipation, accuracy, and touch keep an offense moving, while experience and composure strengthen his projection. Chambliss’s stronger arm gives him the edge in my rankings. Mensah has less margin for late throws; his deep placement becomes less consistent when he strains for power, and his pocket ball security needs improvement. The Burrow comparison reflects his potential for precision and processing.
For Miami, he offers a developed passing foundation and functional mobility. However, I would need stronger conviction in his upside to favor an early investment over improving the roster around Willis.
4. CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 215 lbs | Class: Redshirt sophomore
High-end comparison: Brock Purdy | Restrained comparison: Alex Smith
Carr’s processing, quick release, and command make him my QB4. He shows anticipation and touch, with enough mobility to extend plays. Mensah ranks higher because I trust his accuracy more, and he has more experience carrying a passing offense. Carr’s average arm strength makes timing especially important. His movement accuracy and tendency to create unnecessary negative plays need improvement. He closes my top tier; the quarterbacks behind him require more developmental projection.
For Miami, his passing foundation is attractive, but his shorter starting résumé adds uncertainty. I would need greater conviction in his upside to justify an early pick within Sullivan’s plan around Willis.
5. Austin Simmons - Missouri
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 220 lbs | Class: Redshirt junior
High-end comparison: Justin Herbert | Restrained comparison: Drew Lock
Simmons’s arm talent earns him the final spot in my top five. He generates impressive velocity and can attack difficult windows, while showing anticipation and touch beyond simply throwing hard. The Herbert comparison reflects his size and passing tools, but his limited starting experience leaves considerable projection. He sometimes relies on his arm to rescue late reads, and his timing under pressure needs improvement. Like Lock, he could struggle to turn impressive flashes into dependable execution if those issues persist.
For Miami, his size and arm fit parts of Sullivan’s inferred preferences, but experience remains a concern. I would need more consistent evidence of his processing and accuracy before supporting an early investment while Miami builds around Willis.
Late-Round Dolphins Target: Conner Weigman - Houston
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 210 lbs | Class: Redshirt senior
Weigman interests me because he combines size, arm talent, functional mobility, and meaningful starting experience. Improved production and ball security strengthen his case, although placement, mechanics, and injury history deserve scrutiny. If he's available in the sixth or seventh round, he could compete with McCord without forcing a premium pick away from supporting Willis. Continued improvement could push him beyond that price range.
Other options worth studying include Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Jordan Cooke (Idaho State), and Ty Pennington (Northern Arizona).
