On Saturday, the New England Patriots finally made the call to address the linebacker situation during the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Patriots chose Ja’Whaun Bentley, linebacker out of Purdue University. Although some would argue that the Patriots waited too long and missed out on a big-name player, the motto “In Bill We Trust” will prove to ring true with this fifth-round selection.
With the 143rd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Purdue LB Ja’Whaun Bentley.
— LWOS Patriots (@LWOS_Patriots) April 28, 2018
New England Patriots Draft Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley
A Depth Chart Option
During the 2017 season, injury knocked Dont’a Hightower off the board and into the Limbo of the Injured Reserves. Harvey Langi, a 2017 undrafted free agent signing for the Patriots, was involved in a motor vehicle accident with his wife and also found himself off the table for New England. All of a sudden, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts found themselves headlining the linebacking corps with Marquis Flowers and Geneo Grissom in supporting roles. The Patriots had to work their magic to try and restock the linebacking corps, bringing in Nic Grigsby and former Pittsburgh Steelers legend James Harrison.
The Patriots lack of depth at linebacker felt exposed for much of the season despite the signings. There was widespread speculation that the Patriots would address this lack of depth in the draft. This is where Bentley fits into the equation for the time being. The linebacker room will get Hightower and Langi back in 2018. However, Harrison has since retired and Grissom is expected to return to his place on the defensive line. Bentley will most likely serve as a rotational reserve inside linebacker for the Patriots during his rookie season.
A Developmental Talent
Bentley was graded at 5.19 by NFL scouts, giving him a “better-than-average change to make an NFL roster.” One of the biggest criticisms about Bentley was that he lacked speed, and unfortunately, speed cannot be taught. However, Bentley possesses strength and consistent ability to win head-to-head battles.
Bentley is going to be best used in obvious running situations. His lack of speed and inability to change direction quickly makes him rather inefficient as a coverage linebacker. This notion is backed up by the two interceptions in four years that Bentley gathered at Purdue. But his ability to defeat blockers with strong, fast hands, solid tackling fundamentals, and powerful build made him one of the best run-defenders in the Big Ten.
It looks like Bentley could compete with Elandon Roberts down the road with significant development. But for the time being, it will serve linebackers coach Brian Flores well to develop Bentley’s ability to slide and loosen up some of the stiffness he demonstrates in open-field coverage.
A Young Leader
Bill Belichick loves players out of the Big Ten conference. Bentley fits that bill as a four-year Purdue Boilermaker. In 32 games, Bentley racked up 272 total tackles. However, the most impressive statistic about Bentley’s college career is that he is the first three-time captain in Purdue Boilermaker history.
After the 2017 season in which everyone and their cousin seemingly had inside information about the Patriots horrid internal culture, Belichick is making a statement by taking one of the Big 10’s biggest leaders. Bentley may not start many games in 2018, but he will certainly add intangible strength to the locker room din.
Last Word on Ja’Whaun Bentley
It is hard to see Bentley as an immediate impact player. He was a fifth-round pick and presents himself as a bit of a one-dimensional linebacker. This does not particularly fit the Patriots need for a pass defender in the middle of the defense. However, his toughness on the run will make him a significant situational contributor and a serviceable option on the depth chart. Under Flores, Bentley has plenty of potential to become a force in the Patriots defensive unit within a few years.
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