Patriots: 3 AFC East rivals NE can steal in free agency
By Mike Luciano
No. 2: Kyle Van Noy, LB, Miami Dolphins
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. One of Belichick’s assistant’s gets hired as a head coach, they fill the coaching staff and roster with players they are familiar with from New England, those personnel inevitably fail to recapture the success they had under Belichick, and they soon make their way back to New England.
While Brian Flores has been more of a success than, say, Matt Patricia in Detroit, Van Noy apparently wasn’t worth bringing back for a second season with Miami, and the former BYU star is on the free agent market again. Is a reunion in the works?
How can Kyle Van Noy help the Patriots?
Van Noy’s release has to be financially-motivated, because he was rock-solid with Miami. He tallied six sacks and 69 tackles despite playing just 14 games. Belichick’s fetish for versatile linebackers like Van Noy could, and should, prompt him to consider bringing him back.
Van Noy started 14 games on a defense that was so dominant it almost led the Dolphins to the postseason despite serious uncertainty at quarterback. Belichick would be better off addressing their linebacker depth in free agency rather than the draft, and Van Noy could find his footing within the league again if he decides to come back to New England.