The New England Patriots reclaimed their AFC East throne in 2025 after a five-year hiatus, but defending that throne in 2026 will be difficult. The Bills, of course, are the primary contenders for the crown, but the Jets have made significant veteran additions that demonstrate Aaron Glenn's desire to improve the team immediately in 2026.
The Dophins are in a more interesting spot. The Bills and Jets have reason to hope they can improve in '26, but Miami went into a full teardown this offseason with new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley joining the team. Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb were all released, while Jaylen Waddle and Minkah Fitzpatrick were traded.
The Dolphins are primed to be last in the division, but the hope that comes with a teardown of this scale will certainly excite some Dolphins fans. They now own seven picks in the top-100 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while they have almost $180 million in dead cap now on their books, they're projected to have the third most next offseason.
Malik Willis is named a top breakout candidate for the 2026 season on his new team
Aside from their cache of 2026 draft picks and nearly $150 million in projected cap space in 2027, the Dolphins have another reason to be excited: a new QB1. Malik Willis inked a 3-year deal this offseason, and the hype from Miami fans is reasonable.
Despite limited game action, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has shown some flashes of brilliance.
He played in only four games this year, but Willis was 30-for-35 for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. He added 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 carries.
2024 was a similar story for Willis. Limited opportunities, but he made the most of them when he got the chance. On the season, he was 40/54 for 550 yards and 3 touchdowns as a passer. He took 20 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown as well. He hasn't thrown an interception since Christmas Eve of 2022, with 9 total touchdowns in the last two years.
All things considered, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Bleacher Report's Moe Moton sees Willis as a top breakout candidate in '26. Considering he'll be working with former Texans' OC Bobby Slowik, who was receiving head coaching interviews after C.J. Stroud's rookie campaign in Houston, there's plenty of reason for excitement.
Malik Willis could be a problem for New England
The former Liberty quarterback could be a problem for New England. The Patriots have historically struggled against Miami, and the organization beat Tua for the first time last season in Week 2. Willis comes with his own set of issues.
The Patriots struggled to defend rushing quarterbacks last season. Justin Fields had 67 yards and found the end zone on his 11 rushes in their TNF matchup. They struggled to keep Lamar Jackson in the pocket before a first-half injury against the Ravens, and Josh Allen averaged 50.5 rushing yards per game across his two games against Zak Kuhr's unit.
Willis could make some waves if New England doesn't fix that issue.
The Patriots released Anfernee Jennings and Jahlani Tavai, while they also lost K'Lavon Chaisson and Jack Gibbens to free agency. Dre'Mont Jones and K.J. Britt were added to bolster the ranks, but if Vrabel and company are serious about wanting to contain scrambling quarterbacks, adding an elite sideline-to-sideline linebacker through the draft may be the best option. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez or Texas's Anthony Hill are strong options.
While Willis hasn't proved himself to be a franchise player, Miami will be hoping he can put his flashes together for a full season of production in 2026. With Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, and Greg Dulcich as his top receiving threats for now, getting a clear gauge of his ability could prove difficult; that doesn't mean Willis couldn't still be a problem for New England.