There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding the New England Patriots with training camp beginning later this month. After a tumultuous 2024 season with Jerod Mayo, the Pats brought in Mike Vrabel to be the new head coach, as they hope he can turn things around.
It won’t be an easy job for Vrabel, as New England only won four games last season. However, Vrabel retooled the coaching staff and brought in new players in free agency and the NFL draft, which should improve the talent level in 2025.
Anytime you have a large influx of new players, it means several players could be on their way out the door.
When it comes to the Patriots, most of the attention is geared toward the crowded wide receiver room, which could see 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker not make the team. That will be a competition to watch throughout the summer.
However, on the defensive side of the ball, New England added multiple new faces to the unit, which could squarely put veteran edge rusher Anfernee Jennings on the chopping block.
Anfernee Jennings is on Thin Ice Ahead of a Pivotal Training Camp
The 27-year-old Jennings is coming off a solid 2024 season, where he racked up 78 combined tackles (career-high), nine quarterback hits (career-high), seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks (career-high), a pass deflection, and a forced fumble in 16 games.
According to Pro Football Focus, the former third-round pick left a lot to be desired as a pass rusher (59.2 – 113th among 211 EDGEs), but he was solid against the run (73.0 grade – 24th).
Therefore, based on Jennings’ production last year and being a starter recently, how is he on the chopping block?
According to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald, the 27-year-old Jennings was running with the third-team defense in spring workouts, which is not an encouraging sign for someone who was a starter.
Kyed has Jennings making the team in his most recent 53-man roster projection, but mentioned “he doesn’t appear to be a great fit for Vrabel’s defense.”
If that’s the case, and Jennings doesn’t make his way up the depth chart, the Patriots’ next best course of action is to trade him. The veteran defensive end is under contract next season and won’t become a free agent until 2027.
However, if he’s not a fit for what Vrabel wants to do on defense, the Patriots could move him for draft capital this summer or for another player at a position of need. Between Keion White, Harold Landry III, and K’Lavon Chaisson, Jennings could find himself taking a back seat to those guys if he’s still on the 53-man roster.