Previewing the Patriots linebacker heading into the 2024 NFL season.
The New England Patriots defense projects as one of the best in football in 2024. That is not just due to its big-name players such as Matthew Judon or Christian Gonzalez, but also because of a sizable group of steady contributors capable of making positive plays on a regular basis.
Few members of the Patriots defense fit that description better than Ja’Whaun Bentley. The veteran linebacker may not qualify as a household name, but he sure has proven his importance to New England’s operation on that side of the ball.
Hard facts
Name: Ja’Whaun Bentley
Position: Off-the-ball linebacker
Opening day age: 28 (8/24/1996)
Size: 6’2”, 250 lbs
Jersey number: 8
Contract status: Signed through 2025 (2026 UFA)
Experience
Before entering the NFL in 2018, Bentley spent four years at Purdue. He appeared in 38 total games and despite struggling with injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons put up some solid numbers: he registered 272 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a sack in his time as a Boilermaker.
His production put him on the Patriots’ radar, and they ended up investing the 143rd overall selection in the fifth round of the draft to bring him aboard. Since then, Bentley has developed from a rotational-level player to one of the Patriots’ most important players and a starter at the heart of the defense.
Despite missing most of his rookie season due to a biceps injury, he has still played a combined 83 regular season and playoff games since arriving in New England. Along the way, he registered 503 tackles, 10 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Additionally, he was voted a team captain on three separate occasions (2020, 2022, 2023).
2023 review
Stats: 16 games (16 starts) | 984 defensive snaps (86.5%), 11 special teams snaps (2.4%) | 114 tackles, 17 missed tackles (13.0%) | 23 quarterback pressures (4.5 sacks, 7 hits, 11 hurries) | 43 targets, 36 catches surrendered (83.7%), 387 yards, 1 TD | 1 forced fumble
Season recap: Before even really beginning his preparation for 2023, Bentley already saw his role on the defense change slightly: with long-time team captain Devin McCourty announcing his retirement, the job of on-field signal caller suddenly had to go to somebody else. That somebody was Ja’Whaun Bentley.
Bentley wore the green dot on his helmet throughout his 2024 campaign, with the lone exception being the Patriots’ Week 10 game against Indianapolis he missed due to a hamstring injury. When healthy, though, he was one of the undisputed leaders for New England on the defensive side of the ball and a reliable presence at the second level of the defense.
In total, Bentley finished the year ranked second among all Patriots defenders with a playing time share of 86.5 percent (984 of 1,138). He also led the team in tackles (114) and was tied for second in sacks (4.5). In general, his sixth season as a pro was his most disruptive in the pass rushing department and a continuation of a trend that had started the previous year: New England felt more confident using him as a downhill attacker versus the pass.
All in all, Bentley continued to serve as a three-down linebacker for the Patriots in 2023. But while his importance as a core defender and team leader cannot be understated, there also were a few ups and downs along the way.
The aforementioned hamstring injury and a knee issue limited him down the stretch, and his play — possibly in part due to those ailments — was not always up to the standard. Bentley missed 13 percent of his tackle attempts, for example, and also had some trouble getting off blocks at the second level. He also ran hot and cold as a pass defender.
Despite those blips on the radar, however, he still had a solid individual season overall. While not necessarily a Pro Bowl-caliber performer, Bentley was a big piece of the Patriots’ defensive puzzle — and for good reason.
2024 preview
What will be his role? Bentley is the Patriots’ top option at the off-the-ball linebacker position, and as such will continue to see extensive action. While he is better playing downhill than dropping back into coverage, he has shown that he can successfully serve as a three-down player who will rarely leave the field and make his fair share of positive plays. In addition, he is expected to continue to serve as New England’s primary signal caller on defense and once again get voted a team captain.
What is his growth potential? Entering the seventh season of his NFL career, Bentley’s room for growth appears to be limited. There are some areas he can improve on compared to his 2023 performance, and working under Dont’a Hightower as his new position coach could help in that regard. All in all, though, the type of player he is will not change.
Does he have positional versatility? Nobody is going to confuse Bentley with the versatile “move” linebackers the Patriots employed in the past such as Hightower, Kyle Van Noy or Jamie Collins. And while he is not a one-trick pony either, a vast majority of his snaps last season did come in an off-ball alignment: 919 of his 984 defensive snaps (93.4%) saw him line up in a second-level position. He did move up to the line of scrimmage and into the slot on occasion, but New England wanted to keep him in his established comfort zone.
What is his salary cap situation? Bentley signed a two-year extension with the Patriots last summer, and is now entering its first season. As part of that deal, he carries a $6.27 million salary cap number that consists of a $2.36 million salary and $1.83 million signing bonus proration — both fully guaranteed — as well as a combined $1.14 million in active roster and workout bonuses. In addition, $1 million of his playing time incentives are considered likely to be earned as well.
How safe is his roster spot? While Bentley’s cap hit may seem relatively big, he still ranks only 13th on the team in that category. Add the fact that releasing him would make little fiscal sense, and that he is a starter on the defensive side of the ball as well as a team leader, and you can see why his roster spot does not appear to be in any danger at this point in time. Barring any incident or accident, Bentley will be on the 53-man roster come the regular season.
One-sentence projection: Bentley will continue to be among the Patriots’ leaders in defensive playing time and tackles for yet another year in 2024.
What do you think about Ja’Whaun Bentley heading into the 2024 season? Will he remain a steady presence at linebacker? Will his role change with some changes on the coaching staff? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.
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