The New England Patriots might be adding another Pro Bowl talent to their defensive line. The Green Bay Packers recently released Mike Daniels, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Patriots are on the shortlist of potential suitors. Now that he’s on the open market, let’s take a look at what Daniels brings to the table and how he fits in New England’s defense.
How Mike Daniels Fits With New England Patriots
Daniels’ Skillset
Mike Daniels is one of the better dual-threat interior linemen in the league. From a pass-rushing standpoint, Daniels boasts an impressive ability to get to the quarterback. He’s no Aaron Donald, but he’s able to collapse the pocket and take down the quarterback on a consistent basis. In today’s pass-happy NFL, this makes him a valuable commodity on any defensive line.
Right, left, drives through man & sacks throws Bridgewater to the ground with one hand. Daniels is a strong man. #Packers pic.twitter.com/Kc8LVsgLUz
— Dusty (@DustyEvely) August 28, 2017
He’s far from a one-trick pony, as Daniels also excels at sniffing out run plays and taking down the ball carrier. Daniels missed six games in 2018, so his statistics are a little underwhelming at first glance. However, Daniels showed how disruptive he could be when he recorded 10 tackles-for-loss back in 2017. Even when he doesn’t get the tackle, he rarely loses in the trenches and often eats up space so others can make plays. Bill Belichick consistently asks his linemen to occupy blockers, and Daniels is capable of doing that.
While he primarily lines up inside, Daniels has the ability to play all across the defensive line. Nobody loves versatility more than Bill Belichick, and Daniels’ ability to play multiple positions should allow New England to get creative with their fronts. Not only can Daniels play defensive end, but he can play it well. Daniels isn’t the speediest edge rusher in the world, but he can use his size to overpower tackles and get to the quarterback.
Can move him outside and have him push the pocket as well. Gets low off the ball, strikes with inside hands, gets upward momentum and drives the tackle into the QB. pic.twitter.com/A0UCHSTifV
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) July 25, 2019
How Mike Daniels Fits The Depth Chart
Adding Mike Daniels to New England’s defensive interior is just unfair to the rest of the NFL. New England already has a top-10 defensive tackle in Lawrence Guy, and first-year Patriot Mike Pennel is another above-average starter. Even though they lost Malcom Brown in free agency, New England already has two strong starters on the interior. It’s far from a top-heavy group, as the depth options are also impressive. Danny Shelton was a valuable run-stuffer last year and Adam Butler has shown promise as a situational interior pass rusher.
Considering the depth at tackle, the Patriots could consider using Daniels primarily as an edge defender. As of this posting, New England doesn’t have an ideal option to start opposite Michael Bennett. Deatrich Wise is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list and is better suited for a depth role. John Simon looked good in small doses last season, but he’s yet to prove capable of handling a starters’ workload. Chase Winovich has a bright future, but the rookie should probably be eased into a starting role.
There’s no such thing as too much defensive line talent, and Daniels would just add more firepower to what should be a top-10 defense. If they sign him, the Patriots will probably start him as an edge defender opposite Bennett. That said, his positional versatility allows Bill Belichick to move him around to get the best possible players on the field. In clear passing situations, Daniels can move to the interior and allow a speedier edge rusher to get some playing time on the edge.
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