{"id":5026,"date":"2016-02-18T07:45:17","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T12:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=5026"},"modified":"2016-02-20T18:24:19","modified_gmt":"2016-02-20T23:24:19","slug":"patriots-free-agency-outlook-linebackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2016\/02\/18\/patriots-free-agency-outlook-linebackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Free Agency Outlook, Linebackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots are set to enter the free agency phase of the 2016 off-season and we\u2019ll explore some of the biggest needs of the team moving forward. And some of the names of their own free agents as well as some of their potential targets.<\/p>\n

Next up on the free agency positional list:\u00a0Linebackers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Team Need: Medium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Returning players: <\/strong>Dont\u2019a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jonathan Freeny, Jon Bostic, Darius Fleming, Kevin Snyder<\/p>\n

Free Agents<\/strong>: Dane Fletcher (IR), Dekoda Watson (UFA), Rufus Johnson (ERFA,IR)<\/p>\n

The Patriots lost an iconic figure with the retirement of Jerod Mayo this week, and while it wasn\u2019t entirely unsuspected it leaves the Patriots with a depth issue behind starters Hightower and Collins. Those two are arguably the best pair of linebackers in the league and the team\u2019s immediate concern is locking them up long-term.<\/p>\n

When each missed time last season, the team relied upon both Mayo and Freeny who was primarily known for his special teams play. With Mayo now retired, who will they look at to play some important snaps and keep Hightower and Collins fresh.<\/p>\n

Bostic would seem a likely choice, he was a starter in Chicago before coming over last season but played primarily on STs. With a year in the system could his role increase? Surely, but at this point, I wouldn\u2019t expect the team to be banking on his rise.<\/p>\n

Fleming, Snyder along with Fletcher, Watson and Johnson if they return are strictly depth type players. Which leaves the Patriots in a position to fill an important slot before training camp begins in July. They could address this in the draft or via free agency.<\/p>\n

Here are a few free agents that could be on their radar, beginning with a guy that they\u2019ve targeted in the past.<\/p>\n

Rolando McClain<\/strong>
\nMcClain is an athletic 6\u20194, 255-pound \u201cMike\u201d or Middle Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. He has terrific size and while he\u2019s isn\u2019t speedy, he\u2019s very good in coverage, being able to drop into the short to intermediate zones, can play man coverage against tight ends and because of his length does a good job of protecting the seams.<\/p>\n

For a big guy however, stopping the run isn\u2019t his strong suit. He misses too many makeable tackles and at times looks like he gives up on some plays. He\u2019s had concussion issues as well, which may figure into that.<\/p>\n

Dallas has given him back-to-back one-year deals and it seems that they are ready to move on from him. Would he fit in New England? Absolutely, you\u2019d be looking at guy who played around 650 defensive snaps in 2015 despite missing four games and would be a good addition to the sub-package defense.<\/p>\n

Last season the Patriots had him in for a free agent visit and offered him basically the same $4 million deal he ultimately took to stay in Dallas. Which brings us to his baggage and with it comes his signing with a risk factor.<\/p>\n

He missed the first four games of 2015 for a drug related suspension by the league, if he were to falter again, he\u2019d be looking at a much longer suspension the next time. So would the Patriots feel comfortable with locking him up with a long-term deal? That\u2019s probably what McClain is looking for in 2016. If they feel that behavior is behind him, then they could pull the trigger.<\/p>\n

They did go after him last year and were spurned, will they go back to the well one more time? Next up, this guy would be a perfect fit, but may be too pricey\u2026<\/p>\n

Danny Trevathan<\/strong>
\nTrevathan was a stellar performer for the Super Bowl champs, something that will help ring up the dollar signs for the soon to be 26-year old. He\u2019s 6\u20191, 240-pounds of speed at the ILB position for the Broncos.<\/p>\n

However, Trevathan is versatile and could line up as a traditional inside or \u201cMike\u201d linebacker or be used as a \u201cWILL\u201d or Weak-side linebacker where his speed could be easily put to use going from side-to-side. Matching him up with Hightower would give Bill Belichick the ability to mix and match depending upon the opponent as each could move inside or outside at will.<\/p>\n

Trevathan is very physical and a force against the run, logging in 129 tackles back in 2013. He can also be counted on to be a special teams contributor, something Belichick loves in his players.<\/p>\n

Trevathan is a true three-down linebacker who is good in coverage with the speed to keep up with tight ends and chase down running backs in the flat. He\u2019s very good at run stoppage and is very athletic and instinctive.<\/p>\n

While a great fit, he\u2019s a long-shot to come to New England. He\u2019s going to command the kind of money that the Patriots won\u2019t and can\u2019t spend at this point of the game. He\u2019ll likely land a contract that pays him in the $7-8 million-dollar range, which would put him out of the Patriots price range unless they can talk him into coming here and playing for a chance at more championships. But Trevathan is coming up on his big pay-day and he\u2019s going to cash in.<\/p>\n

Next up a guy who might thrive with a change of scenery\u2026<\/p>\n

Shea McClellin
\n<\/strong>McClellin was drafted by the Bears ahead of Chandler Jones and they first attempted to make him a defensive end and an edge rusher. Then they moved him to linebacker where his play has been okay but far from awe inspiring.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say that he\u2019s been bad, but as a first round pick, they Bears were expecting a difference maker. His play has been solid but he hasn\u2019t been that. Now it is time for him to move on.<\/p>\n

Could a change of scenery and a fresh start with New England, re-ignite his career? He could be a nice fit for the Patriots and has shown he has the versatility to play outside linebacker, defensive end and inside linebacker. Belichick loves versatile guys who can play anywhere and are smart enough to know their responsibilities all along the defense.<\/p>\n

McClellin brings a very solid work ethic, is a steady if unspectacular player and a positive influence on and off the field. With the state of flux the Bears have been in the past several years, Chicago\u2019s loss could be Belichick\u2019s gain. He tackles well and had 81 in just 12 games, but was awful in coverage last season. Something that will have to change.<\/p>\n

McClellin could come in fairly cheaply and be the guy with starting experience that helps out in the rotation for Collins and Hightower.<\/p>\n

Next up a guy who will be a sought after and expensive free agent\u2026<\/p>\n

Bruce Irvin<\/strong>
\nIrvin has been a very productive player for the Seattle Seahawks during the recent run of success. He\u2019s logged 22 sacks in the past four years and can get after the quarterback, drop into coverage and do a great job on tight ends and is very solid in the run game.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a sure tackler who wraps up and hits hard. And remember as soon as he went down in Super Bowl XLIX against the Patriots, Tom Brady began targeting the other Seahawks LBs with Rob Gronkowski to great effect.<\/p>\n

But fast forward to this year\u2019s Super Bowl and teams were watching Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware terrorize the Panthers with their speed and pass rush off the edge that left the #1 scoring team in the league grasping at straws. That\u2019s why teams will be lining up to sign Irvin. He can flat out get after the quarterback and the rest\u2026.just gravy.<\/p>\n

Irvin has hinted that he\u2019d take less to remain a Seahawk but another favorite to land him would be his hometown Atlanta Falcons and reunite him with coach Dan Quinn. Bidding will go fast and furious on Irvin and could reach the $10 million-dollar per year threshold. Which would put New England right out of the running.<\/p>\n

Would Irvin be a fit in New England? Absolutely. He\u2019d be a fit just about anywhere with his skill set, and while his coming here may be a bit of a pipe dream, the team should do their due diligence and kick the tires on him and see if there was a way they could work a deal.<\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter\u00a0<\/em>@SteveB7SFG<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or email me at\u00a0<\/em>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our\u00a0<\/em>Patriots 4th<\/sup>\u00a0and 2<\/em><\/a>\u00a0podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from\u00a0<\/em>PatsFans.com<\/em><\/a>\u00a0discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Patriots lost an iconic figure with the retirement of Jerod Mayo this week, and while it wasn\u2019t entirely unsuspected it leaves the Patriots with a depth issue behind starters Hightower and Collins. Those two are arguably the best pair of linebackers in the league and the team\u2019s immediate concern is locking them up long-term.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4471,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,10],"tags":[185,460,823,806,799,48,34,862,860,567,836,154,288,153,349,84,859,44,70,8,850,117,388,861,13],"class_list":["post-5026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-commentary","category-patriots-news","tag-2015-nfl-season","tag-2015-patriots","tag-2016-free-agents","tag-2016-nfl-off-season","tag-2016-patriots-roster","tag-53-man-roster-projection","tag-bill-belichick","tag-bruce-irvin","tag-danny-trevathan","tag-darius-fleming","tag-dekoda-watson","tag-donta-hightower","tag-jamie-collins","tag-jerod-mayo","tag-jonathan-bostic","tag-jonathan-freeney","tag-kevin-snyder","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-nfl","tag-patriots","tag-patriots-linebackers","tag-rob-gronkowski","tag-rolando-mcclain","tag-shea-mcclellin","tag-tom-brady"],"yoast_head":"\nPatriots Free Agency Outlook, Linebackers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Patriots lost an iconic figure with the retirement of Jerod Mayo this week, and while it wasn\u2019t entirely unsuspected it leaves the Patriots with a depth issue behind starters Hightower and Collins. 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