​The 2026 Miami Dolphins quarterback room looks markedly different from last year’s group. With Tua Tagovailoa now in Atlanta with the Falcons, the offense is being led by Malik Willis, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback who is viewed as the likely face of the unit in 2026. Quinn Ewers stepped in last season when Tagovailoa was benched late in the year and earned the starting nod, and this year he presumably holds down the second-string job while aiming to push Willis for the top spot.
Behind those two, Miami has a pair of intriguing options in their first full season of competition at the professional level: Cam Miller, a first-year passer, and Mark Gronowski, a rookie undrafted free agent. Gronowski, in particular, could force the Dolphins coaches to make a difficult call this summer as they weigh keeping a third quarterback on the active roster.
Name: Mark Gronowski
Number: 16
Position: Quarterback
Height / Weight: 6’2” / 226 pounds
Age (at start of season): 24
Experience: Rookie
College: Iowa (transfer from South Dakota State)
Draft: 2026 undrafted
Acquired: 2026 UDFA signing
Contract: 3 years, $3.1 million
2026 salary cap: $886,666
Source: Contract details via OverTheCap.com
Gronowski’s path to the Dolphins is rooted in a notable college journey. He transferred to Iowa after spending four seasons at South Dakota State, where he helped the Jackrabbits win two FCS National Championships. In his lone season with the Hawkeyes, Gronowski demonstrated that his dual-threat skill set translates to the upper echelon of college football. He finished with the most rushing touchdowns in the Big Ten and was tied for sixth in the nation in rushing touchdowns among all players. His performance earned him Offensive Most Valuable Player honors at the East-West Shrine Bowl, underscoring his potential impact at the professional level.
Quarterback signings for the Dolphins include Mark Gronowski (undrafted free agent) and Malik Willis. There was no Tua Tagovailoa selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Dolphins pursued Gronowski during the pre-draft period and sought him as an UDFA as soon as the draft concluded. They brought him to South Florida with a clear intent: Gronowski could be more than camp depth. His combination of running ability and a solid throwing foundation gives him a credible chance to develop into a usable backup option, particularly if Willis remains the expected starter but the team wants a capable, mobile presence behind him.
Gronowski’s NFL path will require development, including refining mechanics and adjusting to higher levels of competition, but the Dolphins appear committed to giving him a real opportunity to grow. If he can outplay Cam Miller and demonstrate enough poise and performance to convince coaches he belongs, he could earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The reality is that, with a quarterback room featuring a proven starter in Willis, a capable secondary option in Ewers, and a developing third option in Gronowski, Miami’s coaching staff will need to weigh Gronowski’s upside against the immediate contributions of Miller and the long-term potential he offers as a dual-threat quarterback.
In terms of roster strategy, Gronowski’s skill set could be leveraged as an asset in certain offensive packages, and his ability to run could serve as a valuable complement to Willis’s own mobility. The Dolphins will want to guard against losing him to a practice squad waiver or poaching by another team during the season, given Gronowski’s upside and the league’s ongoing demand for versatile depth at the quarterback position. If Gronowski continues to develop, he could become a compelling insurance policy and a potential development project whose trajectory aligns with Miami’s longer-term plans at quarterback.