4 Patriots who are likely entering their final season with the team
By Lee Vowell
Ja'whaun Bentley is likely entering his last season with the Patriots
2025 cap hit: $7,333,334
2025 dead cap: $1,833,334
If Bentley retired tomorrow, he already exceeded his fifth-round draft status from 2018. He has been a good, if not spectacular, linebacker and a great fit in New England's system. In terms of pass rush, he had his best season in 2023 with career-highs in sacks (4.5) and quarterback hits (12). But there are other areas of concern that continue to be a problem for the linebacker.
Linebackers, even more than anyone in the secondary, have to be able to tackle extremely well. They are often the guys meant to clean up as the defensive linemen eat up blocks so that the linebackers can scoop up running backs. But Bentley missed 13.4 percent of his tackle attempts in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This was a career-high, too, but just a pinch above his rookie season in 2018.
The linebacker has whiffed on 8 percent of his tackle attempts four times or more in his career, but twice over 13 percent. Again, that is not a lot if one looks at a cornerback's numbers, for instance, but when compared to Jahlani Tavai (who in the last two seasons with the Patriots has missed just 6.4 percent of his tackle attempts) Bentley looks worse.
Bentley also does not produce so much that he cannot be replaced in the 2025 offseason. Releasing him would save the team $5.5 million and that is enough to bring in another veteran who could help New England even more. For example. the Patriots signed linebacker Sione Takitaki to a two-year deal worth a max of $6,645,000. Or New England could just draft Bentley's replacement.