New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots defense is sure to look different under head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
And that could mean a productive player under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo ultimately doesn’t fit what the current Patriots are looking for.
ESPN’s Patriots insider Mike Reiss believes it could lead to Anfernee Jennings getting cut ahead of the 53-man roster crunch. Because while Reiss believes the third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has been a good player in New England, ultimately, the run-first defender might no longer fit the scheme.
“Anfernee Jennings is a really good player,” Reiss said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” last week when asked for a “surprise cut” candidate. “He’s an edge-setter in the old 3-4 Belichick defense. But now, you look at what they have on the edge, and it’s (Harold) Landry, it’s Keion White, it’s (K’Lavon) Chaisson. And then you got a rookie like Bradyn Swinson.”
Jennings (6-foot-2, 255 pounds) is similar in size to Landry, Chaisson and Swinson — White stands on his own as a physical freak. But those aforementioned players are stronger as pass-rushers than Jennings, who typically rotated off the field in passing situations.
“Anfernee Jennings, you don’t really see him right now,” said Reiss, who fully expects Jennings would catch on elsewhere. “So, that would be one name, off the top of my head, that came to me.”
Chaisson, specifically, has been a standout of Patriots training camp thus far. Landry, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $26 million guaranteed this offseason, also has experience working with Vrabel and Williams. White and the rookie Swinson aren’t going anywhere, either.
All told, it could be a long road to a roster spot for Jennings.
