New England Patriots: Five 2018 NFL Draft picks to watch in 2019
3. Ja’Whaun Bentley
It appeared the New England Patriots hit the lottery with fifth-round pick Ja’Whaun Bentley in 2018.
Before going down with a season-ending injury early in the season, the linebacker out of Purdue showed promise as a starter for the Patriots.
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With 14 combined tackles, a quarterback hit and an interception through the first three games of the season, Bentley was beginning to look like the steal of the draft, which is something that did not surprise Patriots head coach Bill Belichick mostly due to how hard of a worker Bentley is.
"“He’s done it every day,” Belichick told the media after the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans. “But that’s what he’s done his whole career in football. It’s not that big of a surprise to me.”"
With high expectations going into 2019, expect Ja’Whaun Bentley to pick up where he left off during his brief stint in 2018. This time with a bit more experience and confidence, the second-year linebacker should secure an inside linebacker position and play a big role in defending the run.
As he proved with his one interception, he also has the versatility to be a factor in the passing game with his ability to rush the passer and drop back into coverage.
In all, Bentley’s return is probably a reason the team hasn’t added a linebacker via free agency.