MIAMI — Outside of the inconsistent, if not lackluster quarterback play that has plagued the Miami Dolphins franchise, talent evaluation, player acquisition and roster development are at the core of what have kept South Florida’s NFL franchise on the mediocrity merry-go-round for two-plus decades.

This past training camp we have seen signs of development from newly signed quarterback Malik Willis, offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea, defensive linemen Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers and pass rusher Chop Robinson, and that’s encouraging.

Let’s hope it isn’t fool’s gold, and that each one of those young starters continues to show promise and progression throughout the regular season.

Pair that with the development we can, and should expect from investing playing time into the 10 rookies — Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, Kevin Coleman Jr., Kadyn Proctor, Chris Johnson, Jacob Rodriguez, Trey Moore, Will Kacmarek, Michael Taaffe and Kyle Louis — and let’s hope a solid foundation is created.

That’s the standard Dolphins fans need to hold this new regime to since general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley have consistently preached about “development,” the “process,” the “foundation,” and building “the right culture,” since their arrival earlier this year.

Exactly how this franchise should be measuring that in 2026 has been tricky to determine. But Sullivan said something Monday that made my light bulb turn on.

“[GMs] have a huge responsibility. It’s a very competitive league. We all know that, and 1% better is 1% better,” Sullivan said in a chat with the media aimed at explaining his roster moves. “That’s a huge deal when you’re competing against the best in the world every Sunday.”

One percent better every day, huh?

When you are nowhere close to 100, the 1% shouldn’t be too hard to achieve, and is why it should be the standard for the 2026 Dolphins.

Player acquisition and development have to be at the forefront of everything, and the standard for everyone should be to get “1% better” with every transaction, every practice and game day.

Steady improvement should be the bar since the Dolphins don’t seem to be tanking, for now.

Maybe Miami gets to that later, say if something happens to Willis from an injury standpoint during the season. Or if Willis proves he’s not a quarterback worthy of the franchise designation.

But most of the moves made this offseason don’t give off the impression that 2026 will be a tank special.

What the Dolphins are embarking on is a scorched-earth restart of the franchise, one where playing time is invested into young players over veterans. But that doesn’t mean the goal is to get to the top of the NFL draft.

Tanking has little benefit if we look at the big picture of things.

Drafting earlier doesn’t guarantee success, or access to a franchise quarterback.

What guarantees success is good player evaluations, procurement and talent development.

That’s how I will be evaluating this 2026 season of a roster that was stripped down to the studs, therefore, will subsequently produce rough moments as it experiences growing pains.

Give Sullivan and Hafley credit. This regime hasn’t shied away from admitting the training camp roster they assembled this spring and summer was talent deprived.

Evidence of this came Monday when Miami claimed seven players off the NFL trash heap (the waiver wire), and signed one free agent edge rusher (Malik Herring) to address one of the many deficiencies these Dolphins have.

By many, I’m referring to Miami’s troublesome quarterback play from everyone not named Willis, the lack of experience at receiver, tight end, edge rusher, cornerback and safety. And the lack of depth on the offensive line, at the edge spot and inside linebacker, which has been watered down by injuries.

Sullivan pledged to be active claiming players and practice squad-poaching all season, and the 11 claims Miami’s made in August verify his words are being backed up with action.

“We are not going to tell ourselves lies when things are not getting done at the level they need to be done,” Sullivan said. “We will continue to turn [over] rocks.”

That’s commendable, and ideal because it will also be revealing.

It should allow us to figure out how good Sullivan and his staff are at evaluating talent. And if we’re being honest, the start was rough because the free agent haul was full of duds.

Of the 41 players signed to one-year, minimum based free agent [prove it] deals Josh Uche, Zayne Anderson, Jalen Tolbert, Robert Beal Jr. and Ronnie Harrison Jr. are the only survivors.

Let’s hope talents such as Jarquez Hunter, a tailback whom Miami traded for last week before releasing, and then re-signing to the practice squad on Monday, Kyle McCord, a quarterback Miami traded for after sending Quinn Ewers to the Jaguars, and Malik Herring, an active and physical edge-setter in the limited reps he has played for the Kansas City Chiefs the last four seasons, prove Sullivan does have an eye for talent because that’s the starting point to turning this franchise around.

Waiver wire claims are a shot in the dark because the players acquired are usually fringe NFL talents. But so were Zach Sieler, JuJu Brents and Greg Dulcich, at one point since they are all waiver wire alums who will begin this season as Dolphins starters.

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