The New England Patriots have been aggressive this offseason, thus far in free agency. How successful they have been in achieving their most important 2026 offseason imperatives: preventing and producing sacks is debatable.
Other positions need to be filled, however, and inside linebacker is one of them. An impressive free agent whom Boston.com's Colin McCarthy has singled out as a good fit for the Patriots is Bobby Okereke of the Giants.
Okereke is an inside linebacker, a sneaky need position for the Patriots this offseason. They have cut ties with Jahlani Tavai, and free-agent Jack Gibbens has not yet signed a new contract. That leaves them with 31-year-old Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss as the top returnees. They need to add to the position.
Mike Vrabel has now released many of the old regime's players, including two stalwarts, Ja'Whaun Bentley and now Tavai, who manned the position in 2024. Both were bigger players for the position, while Vrabel prefers smaller, faster versions if he can get them. One who fits the bill on the free agent market is Okereke, and he'd be a nice addition.
Bobby Okereke and Robert Spillane are a nightmare linebacking duo
The 6'2", 235-pound Bobby Okereke is just the right size for a Mike Vrabel defense. McCarthy thinks he'd be a possibility for New England.
"Okereke is the kind of linebacker Vrabel seems to gravitate towards. He’s solid against the run, can rush the passer without struggling too much in coverage...with the uncertainty surrounding New England’s current linebacker group, adding a big name like him would go a long way towards solidifying its front seven.
In 2025, Okereke had 143 tackles (78 solo), six passes defended, two interceptions and a sack ... Combining Okereke with Robert Spillane would make the Patriots much stronger in the middle of their defense."
The Patriots need to add an ILB. Elliss is a solid player, but he's better suited to be a depth piece. Okereke, on the other hand, would start immediately alongside Spillane. Both are tackling machines. Spillane notched 148 in 2023 and 158 in 2024 before injuries limited him to 97 in 13 games last season.
Okereke has topped 130 tackles in three of his seven NFL seasons, with 143 in 2025.
If Mike Vrabel can add Okereke at a reasonable cost and pair him with Spillane, a lot of the clean-up duties beyond the line of scrimmage will be well taken care of. He would be an upgrade to deploy at a clear position of need.
The Patriots finished sixth overall in the NFL in rushing defense in 2025, a solid showing. But with a key run-stopper, Khyiris Tonga, gone, adding Okereke would help take up the slack. Vrabel and Co. should explore signing Okereke and adding him to the starting defense.
With his outstanding defensive backfield defending the pass, adding another top run-stopper makes perfect sense.