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Speaking to reporters for the final time before training camp, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said Tuesday that quarterback Malik Willis, throughout the team\u2019s offseason practices, has \u201clooked as good as he\u2019s looked since I\u2019ve known him.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s significant, because Willis was very good as the Packers\u2019 backup quarterback the past two seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conversation I had with Malik today walking down the hallway, you can see he\u2019s more comfortable,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cHe understands the answers being provided for him on each play.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said backup Quinn Ewers \u201chas gotten better\u201d and that Ewers and Willis have \u201ctaken more command of the huddle. I\u2019ve seen the confidence grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dolphins\u2019 offseason practices end this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the way it went,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cI appreciate the coaches and how hard they work. I like the relationships we\u2019ve built with the players. I like the guys we have on the team \u2014 veterans, guys we signed in free agency, the guys we drafted. I like the buy-in. I like how hard they\u2019ve worked, the relationships we\u2019ve built….<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased with our attitude and effort, which was the most important thing to me. This is a team that has connected with each other [and] the staff. They work really hard in the classroom [and] the field. They\u2019re coachable. We\u2019ll learn more when we start playing real football. We\u2019ll learn more when adversity hits.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow is an easy time; everything is fresh [and] new. From the attendance to the effort to the buy-in, I couldn\u2019t ask for anything more from this group of guys and the staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked how he would evaluate himself, Hafley said \u201conce we finish this week, it\u2019s very important I take a step back and re-evaluate everything since I\u2019ve been here and look closely at that — things I like that I did, things I didn\u2019t like that I did…. I\u2019m going to take some time to think through that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whereas veteran players will begin their time off later this week, the Dolphins will keep rookies in the building until early next week.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what else Hafley said on Tuesday:<\/p>\n
\u25aa He was noncommittal about whether injured cornerbacks Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck would be ready for training camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish they were coming along a little bit quicker,\u201d Hafley conceded.<\/p>\n
Duck is recovering from a knee injury sustained last season.<\/p>\n
Baker, who started for Tennessee the past two seasons, has an undisclosed injury.<\/p>\n
\u25aa On former first-round pick Kenneth Grant: \u201cHe\u2019s changed his body. He\u2019s faster. He looks more like the guy I saw on his college tape, with his lateral quickness, his pass-rush ability, his ability to play the run. [I like] just the way he\u2019s moving…. Right now, he\u2019s starting to believe in his abilities that we know that he has. Hopefully once pads come in, we\u2019ll see that continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who would both welcome contract extensions, attended Tuesday\u2019s voluntary session.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Hafley said the Dolphins will do two joint practices \u2014 in Washington before the preseason opener and in Miami Gardens before the Giants play here in Week 2 of preseason. Hafley doesn\u2019t like scheduling joint practices on consecutive days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever team gets the best of Day 1, the other team comes out and tries to overdo it [in Day 2] and usually stuff gets bad and you have a better chance of injury,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cYou worry about [a fight] going too far and anyone getting injured. Our job is to protect the players. One good hard practice [is enough].\u201d<\/p>\n
Hafley said two consecutive joint practices is \u201clike playing two games and you\u2019re going to wear these guys out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa The new regime, like the past one, is intrigued by offensive lineman Kion Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly there\u2019s progress,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cWe\u2019ve moved him around. He\u2019s shown his versatility. Let\u2019s really evaluate him when the pads come on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Before the veteran players depart for six weeks off, Hafley will tell them to \u201cclear their minds and rest their bodies a little bit. But then they need to get back to work and make sure they come in in shape. The message is going to be make sure they\u2019re training outside a little bit so when they come back, the heat doesn\u2019t zap them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they don\u2019t do anything, to get back here [at a high level] will take them all of training camp\u2026 We don\u2019t have time for that\u2026 There are 40 plus guys on one-year deals and a ton of rookies. There are a lot of guys with a lot to prove. The guys who put in the work in the next few weeks, physically and mentally, are going to have an advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan had lunch in the Keys last weekend with former Dolphins coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt. How did that come together?<\/p>\n
\u201cDave and Jimmy are real close,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cDave was here all last week \u2014 Dave has been huge for my career \u2014 and asked if I wanted to get together with Jimmy and pick his brain. I brought Sully along. Just asked him a lot of questions. Listened to him about his first go in Dallas. They had a rough first year and then went to win Super Bowls.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked him about his time here and any advice he could give me, advice with the coaches, advice with the players, advice on game day, really picked his brain. To have such a good resource \u2014 one of the greatest coaches of all time \u2014 an hour and fifteen minutes down the road was really cool for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to my wife afterward, \u2018I\u2019m at lunch with Jimmy Johnson. That\u2019s really cool.\u2019 He\u2019s an unbelievable story teller, has an unbelievable memory. Just a great guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:31 AM.<\/p>\n