Even though Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are set to return as the top two options, the New England Patriots are in the process of rebuilding their linebacker room. The depth behind them, after all, has seen some significant turnover this offseason
Jack Gibbens, last year’s No. 3, signed with the Cardinals in free agency. Jahlani Tavai was cut. Marte Mapu was traded to Houston. The Patriots also added K.J. Britt to complete a group that also currently includes Chad Muma and former practice
squadders Otis Reese and Amari Gainer.
While the group has strength in numbers, it is relatively unproven in the Patriots’ system outside of Spillane and Elliss. Even more concerning than that is the lack of long-term perspective, however, which is why New England investing one of its 11 current selections in the upcoming NFL Draft in an off-the-ball linebacker very much appears to be in the cards.
Quality options can be found all over the draft, but it appears the Patriots have set their sights on one particular area: Day 3. That, at least, is what executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said earlier this week.
“I do think it’s a good position Day 3 from a depth standpoint,” Wolf told reporters at Gillette Stadium. “I think there are a lot of players that you could justify using a Day 3 pick on.”
Whether or not the Patriots will act according to their quasi-GM’s statements remains to be seen, but a look at some of the available options shows that several of those are worthy of consideration.
Linebackers such as Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Taurean York Bryce Boettcher, Jimmy Rolder or Red Murdock all fit the Mike Vrabel mold of ‘backer: athletic players who bring a blue-collar attitude to the position. All of them are projected to come off the board on Day 3, something that might also happen with Khalil Jacobs, who the team has shown extensive interest in.
Ultimately, the board and the team’s internal evaluations will decide whether or not any of them — or other options — will be realistic targets. However, Wolf praising the group’s depth is understandable: it is pretty good, even though, as he point it out, it is lacking in overall high-end quality.
“I think it’s solid,” he said. “I think it’s probably a little bit similar to the way it was last year. Maybe, for me at least, I thought it was going to be a little bit better than maybe that’s come out.”
