FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots launched veteran beginning linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley on Friday, the staff introduced.
Bentley, a three-time captain who was coming into his eighth season with the staff, posted a farewell message on X.
New England
Thank You for The whole lot
— JB (@NVBentley33) March 28, 2025
The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bentley totaled greater than 100 tackles in every of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, setting a profession excessive with 122 in 2022. He tore his left pectoral muscle in Week 2 of final season, lacking the remainder of the 12 months, and mentioned final weekend at a season-ticket member occasion that he had lately been totally cleared.
Earlier in March, when the Patriots signed former Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year, $33 million contract that may very well be price as much as $37.5 million, it sparked a query of whether or not Bentley’s spot on the staff was in jeopardy.
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Then New England matched Las Vegas’ two-year provide sheet for restricted free agent linebacker Christian Elliss that’s price as much as $13.5 million, which additional elevated the staff’s monetary dedication on the place.
Bentley, 28, was scheduled to earn $4.35 million in base wage this season. He additionally was set to earn per-game roster bonuses of $60,000 and had a $130,000 exercise bonus; the staff’s voluntary offseason program begins April 7.
Underneath first-year coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots plan to undertake a extra aggressive defensive scheme, and that additionally might have contributed to the anticipated launch of Bentley, who was thought-about a really perfect match within the outdated Invoice Belichick/Jerod Mayo scheme that positioned a excessive worth on run-stuffing linebackers who play downhill.
Bentley initially joined New England as a fifth-round draft pick of Purdue in 2018. He was the primary three-time captain in Boilermakers historical past.
