The start of free agency was chaotic in New England, as the Patriots made several big-time signings, emphasizing getting some heavy hitters on defense for the 2025 season. Most of those signed brought on a lot of excitement from the fans, even more so after they were officially introduced to the media on Thursday, but Mike Vrabel and Co. made it clear they are far from finished with adding more standout players.
Although there are clear needs on offense, the Patriots continue to be linked to intriguing defensive players, the most recent being former Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens. The current rumor from Karen Guregian of MassLive says the team has "kicked the tires" on adding the restricted free agent and he could eventually make his way to Foxboro.
The linebacker group was one of the weaker parts of the defense during the 2024 season, so it makes sense that the new regime is looking to already add a third player in free agency. Gibbens is familiar with Vrabel, too, which seems to be a theme amongst most of the free agents already signed, and could fill a solid role on the defensive line.
If he does sign a contract in New England, that seems to put one player in the hot seat even more so than the one he's been sitting in for the past year. Gibbens' arrival would just accelerate the likelihood of his departure.
Jahlani Tavai's future with the Patriots could be in doubt with the team's interest in another free agent linebacker
After Matthew Judon was traded last summer and Ja'Whaun Bentley suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3, there was a lot of pressure on the backup linebackers to step up to the plate and fill the void left in their wake. It wasn't an easy task, and those called up did as good of a job as they could have done, but it might not be good enough to stick around under Mike Vrabel.
That puts a guy like Jahlani Tavai under the microscope this offseason, as he was one of the more inconsistent defenders throughout the year. On top of that, comments he made about Patriots fans rubbed many the wrong way, even his follow up in hope of explaining what he meant, which could make him an easy cut candidate, too.
Besides those factors, he will have tough competition with Gibbens if he is signed. They'd probably both serve in a backup role on the defense, but statistically, Gibbens has excelled in nearly every metric, even if he was on the field for far less snaps.
Vrabel's familiarity with him could also be a factor, as he has firsthand knowledge of the kind of player Gibbens is and what he's capable of, so he might feel more comfortable giving him the opportunity over Tavai. Or, he will have them compete over the summer for that position, instead.
No matter what, Tavai's declined performance during the 2024 season puts him in the hot seat until proven otherwise. He had a breakout year in 2023, leading to a contract extension, but he did not live up to that standard last year. Unless he can prove he can get back to the player he once was, there's no reason to believe his Patriots future isn't in doubt.