"Willis becomes a new threat for the Patriots to deal with this fall, as he was an exciting prospect coming out of college and wasn't really given much of a chance to do much of anything since he got into the NFL. That'll change as he becomes the Dolphins' starter, and fortunately for the Patriots, they have already added a player who knows how to throw him off his game."
"Kevin Byard III made things difficult for Malik Willis in 2025 - he can do the same for the Patriots this season. During a one-point game between the Packers and Bears, Byard unexpectedly brought the pressure to the quarterback, strip-sacking him on a first-down play to give the Bears a big opportunity."
The Patriots enter the 2026 offseason positioned to retool rather than rebuild, while other AFC East teams make significant changes. The Dolphins and Jets have overhauled their rosters, with Miami cutting Tua Tagovailoa and acquiring Malik Davis as their new starter, while also trading Jaylen Waddle and releasing Tyreek Hill. Willis, an exciting college prospect who received limited NFL opportunities, now becomes the Dolphins' starting quarterback. The Patriots have strategically added Kevin Byard III to their secondary, a safety who previously disrupted Willis during the 2025 season. Byard's defensive prowess, including a memorable strip-sack against Willis during a Packers-Bears game, positions him to create challenges for Miami's offense in upcoming divisional matchups.
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