Free agency is, to a great extent, over. The Patriots made significant improvements on the defensive side of the ball. Part of the improvement may come from transforming it from read-and-react to a more aggressive attacking one. With that comes a change in the profile of the players who fit.
Head Coach Mike Vrabel has already released defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and allowed his linemates, Daniel Ekuale and Deatrich Wise Jr., to leave in free agency. It's been speculated that others in the linebacking corps could also be traded. Among those are Jahlani Tavai, Anfernee Jennings, and the subject here, Ja'Whaun Bentley.
Bentley, like the other players mentioned, does not fit (or perhaps didn't) the profile of smaller, faster sideline-to-sideline linebackers that Vrabel has brought in. Pro Football Focus has suggested that Bentley is the most likely pre-draft trade candidate for the Pats. That's what we'll explore here.
Patriots Ja'Whaun Bentley is a good football player, but...
Bentley is not only a captain, but he was also the best Patriots linebacker in 2024 before an injury derailed his season after two games. The listed 6'2", 250-pound Bentley will be 29 years old in August. He's played as a big, run-stuffing inside linebacker in the Bill Belichick system. Now, all that's changed. So does he fit Vrabel's new system?
At his former size, the answer is probably no. He won't have the speed to play Vrabel's game, as evidenced by the recent additions of Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens. But, can that change? Here's what Pats' Pulpit wrote, commenting on Mike Giardi, of the Boston Sports Journal's revelation that Bentley may be seeking to do just that.
Here's their take on the matter,
"Mike Vrabel wants his defense to be lighter and faster at the second level, and his team’s free agency additions reflect that. Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens are listed at a respective 229 and 242 pounds, noticeably lighter than the previous starting tandem of Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai: the two veterans both played at above 250.
"At least one of them is taking measures to increase his chances of fitting with the new-look unit, though. According to a report by Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal, Bentley has purposefully slimmed down this offseason and is now more than 10 pounds below his previous playing weight."
They also suggest he's trying to get down to about 230 pounds. All this says a lot about Ja'Whaun Bentley, his desire to be a Patriot, and his determination to fit in a different scheme in Vrabel's defense. And it is all good.
Patriots' Bentley's determination is a major plus in his favor
PFF suggested Bentley is the Patriots' most likely trade possibility before the draft. It was a distinct possibility before this latest revelation of his effort to "fit in". The previous version of Bentley didn't fit the current profile. And he certainly was a trade candidate, as were other solid veterans on the team. But what about now?
Ja'Whaun Bentley can play football. While his efforts at redefining his body may not make him a 4.5 forty-yard dash guy, they certainly merit attention and more. If Bentley can demonstrate he can get near 230 pounds, it behooves Mike Vrabel to get him into camp and see what he can do.
Bentley averaged 116 tackles in his last three healthy seasons. In 2023, he notched 4.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, four passes defended, and a forced fumble. He's a good, and importantly, a productive player who is also a captain and a leader. That counts on any football team.
Bentley's determination to drop some weight and get speedier to fit the updated Patriots' defense better is admirable. Let's be clear, if he makes his dedication clear to Vrabel and then shows up to the mini-camps with a trimmed-down physique, he deserves a chance to show what he can do. Dedication and loyalty are qualities to be appreciated, especially with a talented player.
If Bentley makes this transformation, it demonstrates an ability to analyze, improvise, and adapt to a changing situation, as he would to a changing offensive formation. If he does, he shouldn't be traded; instead, he should be given a full opportunity to compete. Such determination should be rewarded.
It's the right thing to do. And we'll be rooting for Ja'Whaun here.