The Patriots have made a notable cost-cutting move. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the team is releasing veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy (Twitter link). 
Van Noy, who will be 31 by the start of the 2022 season, signed in New England last year following a single campaign in Miami. As a result of the way the deal was structured, he accounted for a reasonable $4.37MM against the cap in 2021. However, that figure was set to jump to $7.4MM for next year. New England will save nearly $5MM by letting him go.
Originally a draft pick of the Lions, Van Noy is most well-known for his solid play with the Patriots. 2021 was no exception, as he posted 66 tackles, five sacks and a pick-six. In coverage, he earned a PFF grade of 84.3, proving his value in all aspects of the game. Like in every full season in New England, he played over 80% of the team’s defensive snaps.
On the other hand, Van Noy was a member of the linebacking corps which struggled to handle faster offensive opponents. With Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Ja’Whaun Bentley all pending free agents, this move creates the possibility that nearly the entire position group could be different come next season. Outside of Matt Judon, the team has little in the way of known commodities at the second level of their defense.
The release means Van Noy is free to sign at any time, rather than having to wait until the official beginning of free agency. For the second straight year, he finds himself in the position of needing to find a new home after a productive season; the Patriots, meanwhile, now have just under $13.5MM in cap space to work with.
It’s time for them to cut more of the dead weight like Wynn, Hairy, JJ Williams, Keene, Asiasi, Mills and if someone would take them J. Smith and Agholor
Wynn is absolutely not dead weight. And J.J. Taylor (not Williams) is a special teams player making six figures a year. Not exactly much weight to clear.
Joejuan Williams
My bad. Had never heard anyone refer to him as JJ. He’s on the last year of his rookie deal. Again, not exactly weighing the team down.
With very little cap space and a lot of needs every penny counts so there’s no point in keeping a guy or guys who only matters to your special team so maybe cutting 3-4 of those may give enough space (+the space they already have) to get a good WR or as it sounds right now a number 1 CB
Special teams is 1/3 of the game.
And that has what to do with any of this I mean the pats have to have the most players that can only play on special teams then any other team
And haven’t they been more successful than any other team?
Seems like a logical fit for the Raiders. Keep riding the Patriots diaspora carousel.
Maybe he should get signed by the Jets? Sounds like a vintage jets move, right? Overpay for a played out veteran?
Are you trying to troll a Jets fan by saying the Jets have signed a lot of bad free agent deals? I’m also aware that water is wet and gravity pulls down. Not exactly a sick burn.
Not at all Oof, I feel like we are just old pals here and couldn’t resist flipping you some because I knew you would react.
Van Noy actually might be a good signing for the Jets. He’s not exactly washed up or “played out,” as you suggested. He’s coming off a good season and he’s only going to be 31 next year.
Sir,
Go watch any of the Bills games where they attacked his zone in coverage and ran right at him. He is washed
He had a 72.8 PFF grade which made him a top 40% LB. I’ll pass on your ineffective analysis.
Lol. The fact that you give weight to a PFF grade is all I need to know. You are a simp NFL fan.. honestly, most are.. so you do you.
You didn’t even use “simp” in a logical context. And PFF isn’t perfect but I’m sure it’s better at analysis than you.
Actually it makes perfect sense, but your Boston education prevents you from being even a decent contributor to society so I will leave you here. Have a good one. I guess the moral of the story is that you will be looking up from under Josh Allen’s boot heel for the foreseeable future. Soo good luck..? At least you can cling to PFF grades to explain why the pats won’t make the playoffs next year…
Boston education? Lol born, raised, and still live in Seattle. Not a Patriots fan in the least. In fact, I despise all Boston sports teams.
I won’t even bother to read the rest of your comment because I’m sure it’s dumb given all the nonsense you’ve posted on this article.
Stabby doesn’t like PFF grades because he can’t bend them to suit his beliefs.
Pff also likes your center and we all know that’s a joke
You read it and it sticks in your throat, that’s why you bothered to reply.
I thought you said you were done here? What happened to that?
Better read up on that “boston education” lol
Love that the pats need a complete rebuild but Bill Belly is too stubborn. The drafting and subsequent success of a vastly mediocre QB like McCorkle is awesome because it gives all pats fans false hope. Getting epically spanked in the playoffs by the lowly Buffalo Bills should have been a red flag, but the crappiest fan base in the league refuses to believe what is evident. The empire has crumbled. The Pats are going to be mediocre for awhile because of Bills horrid drafting. Enjoy 6 win seasons and defending McNoodle…
On what planet are the Bills lowly these days? What year do you think it is?
The Bills aren’t lowly, but Pats fans are delusional and think they could over take the East this year. They think they have their franchise in Mac (AJ McCarron 2.0) and don’t realize how bad they will be this year.
Wow, you’re a pretty smart guy. You must be very successful!!
I might be, but I also might be dumb… but I also can get a rise from a Pats fan easily… and it definitely adds credence to my earlier post about pats fans being delusional
We’ll see. I don’t think Jones is destined for greatness, but he’s certainly better than McCarron, and there are worse plans than trying to go all-in on a solid starting QB on a rookie deal. Last year’s bonanza was a pretty mixed bag, but if they can find a number one receiver and still put together a good coverage unit, they’re at least a little dangerous. Bad time to try this approach in the AFC, though.
This entire comment is delusional. Everything about it is incorrect lol
Cool story..?
Much cooler than yours, which wasn’t even worth reading.
But somehow worth replying too?
to* I guess Boston provides a better education than wherever you received yours.
Apparently Seattle does not…
Says the person who doesn’t know the difference between “to” and “too.” LOL!
Has Van Noy ever played inside, or has he always been an OLB? As a Steeler fan any time a LB who can stop the run becomes available I’m immediately interested, since the ILB position was a tire fire in Pittsburgh last season.
The lack of a dline caused the Pit Ilbs to struggle