Head coach Jeff Hafley and the Miami Dolphins could have their quarterback of the future in Malik Willis. The signal-caller was a highly-regarded prospect in his draft class, and the Dolphins signed him to a significant contract in NFL free agency.
But it’s also possible the Dolphins will be in position to select one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski predicted the latter to be the case for Miami in his “way-too-early” 2027 NFL mock draft. In Sobleski’s mock, the Dolphins actually held the No. 1 pick.
With that selection, the BR analyst projected the Dolphins to grab new Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah.
“The 21-year-old signal caller blends an enticing skill set that translates well to the NFL. Mensah plays from the pocket with poise under pressure, accuracy and good ball placement at all three levels. He is a mobile quarterback but prefers to sit in the pocket and dissect defenses. Duke was one of the least talented teams among Power 4 programs, yet Mensah elevated the program with his play,” wrote Sobleski.
“The Hurricanes’ roster is loaded with talent to shine a brighter spotlight on Mensah’s game. Expect him to be in more high-leverage moments, where he can display face-of-the-franchise potential ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft.”
Mensah played the past two seasons at Tulane and Duke. With the Blue Devils last season, Mensah broke out with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns.
In January, the quarterback transferred to Miami.
Dolphins Projected to Grab Darian Mensah in Early 2027 NFL Mock Draft
This is likely just the beginning of 2027 mock drafts projecting the Dolphins to land a signal-caller early in the first round.
With the amount of turnover on Miami’s roster this offseason, expectations around the team are very low. If the Dolphins just meet those low expectations, they will have a high pick in the first round next offseason.
Should that happen, it would make a lot of sense for the Dolphins to focus on upgrading quarterback. While the team signed Willis this offseason, it’s only a 3-year deal, and there’s a potential out in the contract after 2027.
Mensah is an intriguing potential target for the Dolphins because he will play college football this fall in the same stadium as the NFL franchise.
If the Dolphins have the No. 1 pick, then it’s safe to conclude Willis wouldn’t have had a good 2026 season. Mensah could be one of the hottest quarterback names in next year’s class.
At Duke and Tulane combined, Mensah has completed 66.5% of his passes while averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. He’s thrown for 6,696 yards with 56 touchdowns versus only 12 interceptions.
Jeff Hafley’s QB Depth With Dolphins Entering 2026
Willis showcased enough stardom during 2025 to land a significant free agency contract. But that came in a relatively small sample.
With a different offense void of the talent the Green Bay Packers possesses, Willis could struggle.
Youth is also clearly a key attribute for the Dolphins right now in their quarterback room. So, it would make a lot of sense for Miami to draft another signal-caller next spring.
At 26 years old, Willis is the oldest quarterback on the Miami roster.
Pundits expect Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller to battle for the Dolphins backup quarterback role this summer. Miami also added undrafted quarterback Mark Gronowski to their roster after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dolphins Predicted to Pursue New Local QB in Extremely Early 2027 NFL Draft Projection