Patriots 2024 roster reset: Re-signing Jennings should be priority at LB

Patriots 2024 roster reset: Re-signing Jennings should be priority at LB originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Editor’s Note: With the beginning of NFL free agency looming on March 13, our Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran is resetting each Patriots position by assessing their 2023 performance, laying out their 2024 contract status and ranking their offseason priority on a scale of 1 to 5.

Curran has covered quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, offensive linemen and defensive backs. Next up: Linebackers.

Was there any position group on the team more well-coached, consistent and productive than the Patriots linebackers? I don’t think so.

In an evolving league where the definition of what a second-level is in constant flux, the Patriots had the right mix and ingredients in 2023.

Bright spots in 2023

Start with Jahlani Tavai. Matt Patricia was the catalyst for bringing the former Lions second-round pick to New England. He’s been a great add. He played in 17 games with 110 tackles (up from 69 in 2022), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, a sack and four quarterback hits and was a full-on presence every week. He was also excellent in coverage, allowing a QB rating of 69.5 after allowing a 94.6 rating in 2022.

Another huge bright spot was Anfernee Jennings, who went from being a bit player his first two years to starting 14 games in the wake of Matt Judon’s season-ending injury. He wasn’t giving the same pass-rush impact, but he was an edge-setter extraordinaire with 66 tackles and an absurd 14 tackles for loss among those 66.

The anchor of the linebacker crew, Ja’Whaun Bentley, started 16 games and finished with 114 tackles. He was the best rush linebacker of the interior guys, winding up with 4.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. He blitzed 77 times, up from 51 and 32 the two previous seasons. Coverage isn’t his strong suit as an old-school linebacker, but he wasn’t a full-on liability either.

Last one to mention is Mack Wilson. He’s a depth guy…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-2024-roster-reset-signing-181844162.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-03-08 18:33:54

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