Hours before the start of the league new year, the New England Patriots continued to add to their roster as they agreed to terms with linebacker K.J. Britt on a one-year contract.
Let’s break down what the moves mean for the team from a big-picture perspective.
Linebacker depth
The top of the Patriots linebacker room is set with Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss remaining under contract. The depth behind them, however, is a question mark as restricted free agent Jack Gibbens remains without a tender while the team
released Jahlani Tavai on Monday.
After starting a career-high 11 games in Tampa Bay in 2024, Britt saw his role decrease with the Dolphins as he played just 14% of Miami’s defensive snaps across 17 games. Still, he brings 76 games on experience to the depth chart at 26 years old. Britt is known best for his work in the run game.
Special teams boost
Britt’s biggest contribution will be on special teams, where he has been a core player throughout his career. During his career, Britt has regularly appeared across five units — kick coverage, kick return, punt coverage, punt return, and field goal block. In his lone season in Miami, he logged 77% of their special teams snaps and posted a career-high 10 special teams tackles.
Britt will likely assume the role Tavai held, as the former Patriot linebacker appeared on the same five units last season while playing 71% of their special teams snaps.
Room for youth
Britt joins fellow 26-year-old Marte Mapu as the youngest players in the Patriots’ linebacker room. Even if the team brings back Gibbens, it should be expected they continue to get younger (and perhaps more athletic) at the position. The NFL Draft would be the likely place to start.
“I think we’d like to maybe address that in the draft. It looks like a good year at linebacker as well,” Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said at the Combine last month.
