# Alain Poupart: Poupart writes that Tua Tagovailoa was never coming back as Miami's 2026 starter and that Malik Willis will be the clear upgrade at quarterback, implying Willis is the Dolphins' starting QB.

**Claimed:** Sep 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Alain Poupart — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/alain-poupart
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/onsi/which-2025-dolphins-starter-now-gone-will-be-missed-the-most-01m23twre9qm

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> It says here that Malik Willis will be a clear upgrade at quarterback, though we won't know that for sure until the regular season plays out.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Malik Willis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-willis
- Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins

## What others said about the same people

- Nick Brinkerhoff on Miami Dolphins: Predicts a 23-20 Dolphins win over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a38cb982-14c3-4bea-bf0f-f61b43e1535a (scored 100)
- Mike Kadlick on Miami Dolphins: Picks the Dolphins to beat the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/23a2739f-abc5-4aea-9665-cebe61f324c5 (scored 100)
- Jourdan Rodrigue on Miami Dolphins: Roderick picked the Vikings to smash the Colts, the Dolphins to win their first game of the season against the Jets, and the Saints to upset the Steelers in Paris. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b45ad24a-5924-47e4-b85c-68b9fa738ef4 (scored 100)
- Kyle "Gump" Cathcart on Miami Dolphins: Gumpy predicted the Miami Dolphins would get a big win over the Jets on Sunday. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/527bc9d5-bef1-4edd-b53c-c061e4062890 (scored 100)
- Carter Bahns on Miami Dolphins: Bahns argues the Dolphins, already 0-3 and now without De'Von Achane for the season, are among the least talented rosters ever and face a brutal schedule, identifying five road/home dates (at the Jets, at the Colts, vs. the Jets, at the Packers, vs. the Chargers) as their most winnable games while doubting they can even approach their projected win total. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8bdb56be-4c1a-45fe-8423-d581fce21da1 (scored 100)
- Seth Rollins on Miami Dolphins: Guest host Seth Rollins named the Miami Dolphins their No. 1 sleeper team, saying they'll outperform expectations, finish ahead of the Jets and at least third in the AFC East, but won't win the division. They also predicted Myles Garrett will break their own single-season sack record given the Rams' elite offense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d6218cb5-f497-4fb3-85af-283101017219 (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100)
- Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0)
- Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100)
- Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100)
- Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100)
- Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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