As soon as Mike Vrabel and the new regime took over the Patriots this past offseason, it was clear they were ready to make any and all changes to the coaching staff and roster to make the Patriots a competitive team again. That meant moving on from every dynasty-era player and some longtime veterans that fans had grown attached to, all to build a team of Vrabel's vision.
It also meant that some players were going to be dangled on the trade market to get some draft capital in return, including those who had recently received contract extensions, like Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings.
Dugger was eventually traded to the Steelers, and Jennings remained on the trade market until the October deadline, which he was very aware of. Because it was apparent that they wanted to move on from him, it could have been a crutch for Jennings to lean on, not to play hard or show up for his teammates.
That hasn't been the case, and he did more than he was asked to do last week against the Ravens, and that might have been enough to earn a new contract for, at the very least, the 2026 season.
Anfernee Jennings has the chance to impress the coaches that tried to trade him this season
In a game that was absolutely disastrous on the injury front, as they were already down Milton Williams and then lost Joshua Farmer and Khyiris Tonga, Jennings was called upon to step up on the defensive line and help fill in the gaps to slow down the explosive Ravens' offense.
He not only excelled at a position he doesn't play, but he also came through with a sack on QB Tyler Huntley to force a 3rd-and-18, which eventually led to a punt. It impressed Vrabel enough to mention Jennings' performance after the game.
“We lost a lot of defensive linemen. To have a guy like Anfernee Jennings – [I give him] a lot of credit going in there and playing defensive line and helping us out. I appreciate what he did and everybody else that was able to step in.”
Being casually name-dropped by the head coach is certainly a sign that Jennings made a positive impact on his team, and it will be a moment Vrabel remembers come the offseason.
Jennings has shown he is willing to do what it takes to help his team win, and he said as much to reporters after the game. He hasn't let the consistent trade rumors distract him from the task at hand, and that could go a long way when it comes time for free agency.
“I always have the next man up mentality. We’re working our ass off in practice, so I gained the confidence in practice to go out in the game and execute. Wherever they put me, that’s my job. I don’t take that lightly, so I was ready to go.”
Although he's signed through the 2026 season, Vrabel and Co. have made it clear they weren't exactly thrilled to have Jennings on the team this year, given how hard they tried to trade him. But if he can continue to exhibit the traits of what the head coach wants on his team, there's no reason he can't remain on the roster next year.
Culture is important, and wanting to be a New England Patriot is near the top of the list for Vrabel. Jennings has shown he fits that to a T, so he has a good opportunity to further solidify his spot on the team next year over the next few weeks.