In a surprising turn of events, the New England Patriots announced on Friday that they have parted ways with veteran linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. This marks a significant move by the team.
Bentley, who has worn the captain’s badge three times and was just about to kick off his eighth season with New England, took to social media to share his farewell. In a heartfelt post on X, he expressed gratitude: “New England‼️Thank You for Everything‼️It’s Been a Blessing 🖤🎱”.
Standing tall at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 250 pounds, Bentley consistently delivered on the field, amassing over 100 tackles in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. He reached his personal best with 122 tackles in 2022. However, his last season was cut short by a torn left pectoral muscle during Week 2. Recovering well, Bentley shared at a recent season-ticket member event that he’s now fully cleared to play.
The question of Bentley’s future with the Patriots arose earlier this month when the team secured Robert Spillane from the Las Vegas Raiders on a hefty three-year contract, potentially worth $37.5 million. This signing cast doubts over Bentley’s role within the roster.
Further adding to the financial shake-up, New England matched an offer from Las Vegas for Christian Elliss, a restricted free agent linebacker, with a deal possibly reaching $13.5 million. These moves hinted at a shift in the team’s linebacker strategy, which became more evident with Bentley’s release.
At 28, Bentley was poised to earn a base salary of $4.35 million this year, along with additional bonuses, had he stayed on. His departure might also align with the plans of first-year coach Mike Vrabel, who is looking to implement a more aggressive defensive approach. Bentley had thrived under the previous Bill Belichick/Jerod Mayo system, which favored robust, downhill-playing linebackers like himself.
Bentley’s journey with the Patriots began when they picked him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Purdue, where he made history as the first three-time captain for the Boilermakers.
