When a team announces their initial 53-man roster at the deadline, it's well known that it won't be the roster that starts the regular season. Because so many players are cut around the league or sent to the waiver wire, there are plenty of opportunities to upgrade the team further, and that's exactly what most believe the Patriots are going to do in the next few days.
Based on their decisions, it wouldn't be dramatic to say they still have some concerning groups that need upgrading, including the linebacker room.
Because Harold Landry III is expected to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and the rest of the group isn't very deep, there's no reason Eliot Wolf and Co. won't seriously explore the long list of players who are looking for a new team.
It shouldn't take long for them to realize that a player like Tyrel Dodson, who spent the last season and a half with the Dolphins, makes a lot of sense and is too good to overlook.
Even better is knowing they'd be taking him away from a divisional rival and preventing a reunion with the team that initially signed him as an undrafted free agent: the Bills.
The Patriots have every reason to inquire about Tyrel Dodson as soon as possible
The 28-year-old linebacker is coming off the best season of his career, having recorded 129 combined tackles, 10 for a loss, 6 quarterback hits, an interception, 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 5 sacks.
He's clearly a productive player, and he'll likely be heavily pursued by teams across the league, including the Patriots.
Beyond their starting duo of Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss (since Landry will be sidelined), there is far too much unproven talent behind them for the defense to feel totally comfortable going into the season.
That's what makes Dodson that much more appealing, and he could easily steal a starting role if he proves to be just as impressive as he was in Miami last year. It could be the biggest reason he doesn't sign with the Patriots if he's not going to be a starter, but given their need for linebacker help, nothing should stop the team from making the call.
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Dodson is a solid tackler, which has been a weakness for the Patriots in recent years, and was on full display in their preseason finale; he's also a bonus pass rusher. That's another area where the defense is questionable at best, so adding a veteran into the lineup would be a smart move.
And if it's something that they're interested in, as they should be, they'll have to move fast and make an offer Dodson can't refuse because he won't be a free agent for long. If the Patriots want to ensure they have a Super Bowl-ready team, then they'll have to be aggressive in their push for a player like him.
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