The Patriots have made some linebacker payments this offseason, adding Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens and matching the Raiders’ Christian Elliss offer sheet. One of their holdovers will be an odd man out.
Ja’Whaun Bentley is expected to be released Friday, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets. Bentley is under contract for one more season; the Pats would see $4.35MM in cap savings by moving on. Bentley, 28, has started 68 games in New England. The three-time team captain tweeted a goodbye message Friday.
This release comes weeks after the Pats did not re-sign Jonathan Jones. With David Andrews gone as well, Patriots ties to their Super Bowl teams — among non-specialists, that is — are done. Deatrich Wise signed with the Commanders earlier this month. While Bentley has been a Patriot since 2018, he also missed 15 games last season due to injury. That will not give the second-level Pats mainstay much momentum going into free agency.
Attached to a two-year, $13.5MM extension, Bentley suffered a torn pec in Week 2 of last season. This marked the former fifth-round find’s second NFL season with three games or fewer; Bentley went down three games into his rookie season as well. The Pats had used Bentley as a two-game starter that year, providing a sign of stability to come. Bentley started 62 games from 2020-23, earning the extension during Bill Belichick‘s final year in charge.
Set to turn 29 before the 2025 season begins, Bentley will be an interesting free agency option for LB-needy teams. He posted three straight seasons with at least 109 tackles. This stretch also included quality work as a blitzer. The Purdue alum totaled three sacks in 2022 and 4.5 in 2023. He also forced three fumbles in 2021, helping the Pats to the playoffs during a season in which Pro Football Focus ranked Bentley eighth among off-ball linebackers. Belichick signed off on two Bentley extensions, previously giving him a two-year, $6MM deal.
Only long snapper Joe Cardona remains from New England’s Super Bowl teams. Mike Vrabel has begun to reshape the roster, with he and Eliot Wolf making several additions in free agency. Gibbens and EDGE Harold Landry followed Vrabel from Tennessee, while Spillane signed a three-year, $33MM deal. The Patriots, who released Sione Takitaki earlier this offseason, still have 2024 extension recipient Jahlani Tavai and ex-Titans LB Monty Rice at the position.
Why did ju whanna go and do that?
Has to be injury related, they are stacked at linebacker but I thought Tavai was going to be the odd man out based on performance
Yeah, I suppose they like Tavai’s profile as more of a pass rusher, if I had to guess., since he’s not much younger. Bentley is pretty universally liked and respected, though, so it shouldn’t be hard to nab a spot somewhere.
My guess is that Tavai and Jennings are still in a battle for 1 spot as I think the teams also drafts a LB early to middle of day 3 of the draft. Jennings is the cheaper contract vs Tavai.
Bentley has been a solid player for years.
He’d be a very smart addition for a team in need of stability, leadership, and mentoring for young LBs.
Considering they used him as a big part of reason the D was so bad last year because he was injured this makes no sense
With all the reports about wanting good attitude players they release the 2 guy who are considered great guys and leaders in the locker room
I would take a flier on him… as a Bills fan. If it’s just an odd man out/ salary cap casualty and not a problem with his injury recovery obviously.
I see another four win season in the making.