The New England Patriots cut veteran linebacker Anfernee Jennings last week, freeing up around $4 million in cap space. Although losing a job right before free agency isn't ideal, Jennings may have a comfortable landing spot emerging this offseason as his next potential career move.
"Last year’s defensive line coach, DeMarcus Covington, has a new title: OLBs/run game coordinator/assistant head coach – defense," Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber reported on Thursday. "OLBs' is short for outside linebackers. That’s a 3-4 defensive term. That means a new job description for Micah Parsons and a familiar one for Lukas Van Ness."
Clearly, the Packers will have a somewhat immediate need for a position that's been re-established. Luckily, Jennings is still an unrestricted free agent, and he and Covington go way back.
Anfernee Jennings's DeMarcus Covington Connection Could End His Free Agency
Covington, of course, spent eight seasons with the Patriots from 2017 to 2024. Jennings spent five of those years under Covington, who rose from outside linebackers coach in Foxborough to defensive line coach and eventually to defensive coordinator before he took a DL coaching job with the Packers.
Jennings is ideal for a 3-4 defensive base after ranking No. 6 in run-stops for qualified edge rushers during the 2025 season with 37. In 2024, Jennings had 23 run stops and finished with a top-10 run-stop rate. He never quite developed as a pass-rusher, making him a better fit for the OLB role, perhaps as a depth piece in Green Bay.
Covington has always been highly complimentary of Jennings. Back in October 2024, Covington raved about Jennings' leadership abilities after a 25-22 Patriots victory over the New York Jets in Week 8 that year.
"Shows up every week for us," Covington said of Jennings. "Taking a new role last week as far as helping us out on third down. Seeing a player who's growing in a leadership role for us. He's a guy that leads by example... not really a vocal leader, but by his play style and his physical toughness. I'm encouraging that and pushing that forward for him to be one of our leaders of the defense."
Covington never finished the job promoting that vocal leadership in Jennings. Perhaps he will in 2026. New Packers LB Zaire Franklin figures to be a major player on the outside, but in this sport, depth is a necessity. That's especially true for a 29-year-old coming off surgery last year who has somehow avoided missing more than one game since 2018.
Spotrac is projecting that Jennings's next contract will be for $6.4 million across one season. That number could come down if the Patriots' free agent is interested in reuniting with Covington, which would be helpful for a Packers team that has $22.1 million in available space (OverTheCap) with more needs to address this offseason.
With the above in mind, it's clear that the Packers might be Jennings's best chance to end his free agency. Patriots fans will continue to closely monitor the situation, leaving time to tell if Jennings will be in the Packers' lineup when they visit Foxborough Stadium this fall.