Bentley, 28, took to social media before the move was officially announced, writing, “New England!! Thank You for Everything!! It’s Been a Blessing.”
A respected leader on and off the field, Bentley helped anchor the Patriots' defense for much of his career, finishing with 509 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 83 games, including 68 starts.
Don’t know or have an educated opinion on the circumstances/rationale for not moving forward w/ LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, but I’ll simply say I’ve really enjoyed watching him play linebacker here all these years. He is a dawg. Great instincts, hitter, tough, smart. Wish him all the…
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) March 28, 2025
Originally drafted in the fifth round out of Purdue in 2018, Bentley became a key piece of the Patriots' defense, consistently posting triple-digit tackle seasons from 2021 to 2023.
He played a major role in New England’s 2018 Super Bowl LIII championship run and was known for his toughness, reliability, and presence in the locker room. However, his 2024 season was cut short by a torn pectoral muscle sustained in Week 2, limiting him to just two games. His release frees up approximately $4.6 million in cap space for the team.
This sucks. Thank you Ja'Whaun Bentley!!
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) March 28, 2025
Been a joy watching you play in New England. Not only a great player, but a great leader. https://t.co/mzoikT590N pic.twitter.com/UGKu7D1DFW
Bentley had been scheduled to earn $4.9 million in the final year of the two-year, $13.5 million contract extension he signed in 2023.
With the Patriots recently signing linebacker Robert Spillane, there had been speculation Bentley could become a cap casualty. He now joins a group of experienced free-agent linebackers still looking for new teams, including Eric Kendricks, Kyzir White, and Jerome Baker.
Photo Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
