Mike Vrabel took charge of the Patriots in January, and the whole operation has been rejuvenated since. Vrabel knew he had his quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, but after that, with only a few exceptions, he also knew his roster needed a major revamp.
Since then, through free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency, the Head Coach has added upgrades to virtually every position on the field. From the sieve-like offensive line to the slow-footed linebacker corps, Vrabel brought in better players whom he'll field in 2025.
On the linebacker front, gone are former captain and best linebacker, Ja'Whaun Bentley, and Sione Takitaki. Jahlani Tavai, a decent player who ill-advisedly trashed the Foxborough faithful for booing in 2024, may also be on thin ice. Neither he nor Anfernee Jennings fits the profile of the smaller, more mobile linebacker that Vrabel prefers. Jennings is on the roster bubble.
The longest-tenured Patriots player might not make the 2025 roster
Jennings has been a disappointment since he was drafted in the 2020 third round to rush the passer. Built more like an inside backer than an edge at 6'2" and 255 pounds, he fit Bill Belichick's version of a linebacker to a T: Vrabel's, not so much. He's bigger, slower, and not a playmaker.
Recently, ESPN's Mike Reiss appeared on 98.5 The Sports Hub and suggested the most surprising cut that he could see the Patriots making for the 2025 season: Anfernee Jennings.
"Anfernee Jennings is a really good player. He’s an edge-setter in the old 3-4 Belichick defense. But now, you look at what they have on the edge, and it’s (Harold) Landry, it’s Keion White, it’s (K’Lavon) Chaisson. And then you got a rookie like Bradyn Swinson.'"
Reiss's comments about "fit" in Vrabel's new system are telling. Jennings likely won't make the grade as he doesn't fit the profile of Vrabel's new edge guys and inside linebackers. The essence for them is mobility, also known as sideline-to-sideline tracking ability. Jennings, as an "edge-setter," as Reiss notes, doesn't qualify.
Mike Vrabel's new defense doesn't fit a lot of the 2024 players
Throughout his tenure in New England, Belichick for the most part employed a read-and-react defense. The operative word is "react". It was a reactive defense based on the opposing offense's did. That was, at times, an infuriating strategy as the opposition had ample time to implement their plan, and it was up to the Patriots' defense to then stop what had already developed.
That will work if you have top players at your disposal. If not, it's doomed to failure. Vrabel's defense is the polar opposite. His upfield attacking mode is geared to stopping an offensive play in its tracks before it's even unleashed. It does this through penetrating defensive linemen who can collapse the pocket on any given passing play and disrupt running lanes when it's a run.
At that point, it's up to speedy linebackers to clean up any advancement beyond the line-of-scrimmage with their sideline-to-sideline speed. The 2024 Patriots had one linebacker who'd pass that test, Christian Elliss. Vrabel astutely signed him to an extension, even matching an offer sheet from the Raiders.
The rest of the remaining 2024 linebacking crew are likely short-timers, even if they make the initial 2025, 53-man squad. Anfernee Jennings is probably one of them, as Reiss suggests. If he makes the team, it will be surprising, and if he's around after this season, it'll be shocking. Vrabel's defense is built on a completely different modus operandi. If you don't fit, he'll bring in someone else who does.