Patriots could have high-profile cap casualties at linebacker
If the Patriots want to continue spending big in the 2022 off-season, which they did at an unprecedented level in 2021, then they’ll need to maneuver their cap space.
That is never an impossible task. It just doesn’t come without sacrifices. The question shouldn’t be, “Can the Patriots get under the cap?” Whatever amount of space they need, they can get it. The question should be, “What do we need to do in order to get under the cap?”
For the 2022 Patriots, those tough decisions are likely to come at linebacker. It’s a position where the Patriots could use an injection of speed and youth. That could result in Kyle Van Noy becoming a cap casualty, according to Mike Reiss at ESPN.com.
Reiss cited Pats cap expert Miguel Benzan as a jumping-off point. Benzan determined that cutting Van Noy would create an additional $4.1 million in cap space. Reiss decided to “highlight” Van Noy as one of “the types of decisions ahead” for Belichick, and noted that “there is often a surprise or two along the way.”
Van Noy played 16 of a possible 17 games for the Patriots in 2021, with eight starts, and finished with five sacks, seven QB hits, 66 total tackles, and two forced fumbles. He also defended an impressive 10 passes, including an interception he returned for a touchdown late in a Patriots win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Belichick now has to, as with any player, assess the value of Van Noy on the roster versus $4.1 million in cap space. That number isn’t likely to land a player with a chance of delivering high-end value, but a series of similar moves can add up. Benzan’s table on Twitter maxes out at $66.7 million in new cap space, but he assured his followers that the Patriots won’t make close to every move on the list.
The head coach once famously said that cap space “can be maneuvered in a number of different ways.” There’s likely more maneuvering to take place in the off-season, making this a situation to monitor. Van Noy could wind up on the “departures” list because of it.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].