Patriots Absolutely Should Pursue Former Pro Bowler After Release

Devin White is on the open market for the second time in seven months.

The Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday announced they released the veteran linebacker, who signed a one-year deal in March. White never played a game for Philadelphia after he lost a position battle to former Georgia standout Nakobe Dean.

New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf should give White a call.

White spent his first five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and blossomed into a star on their defense. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and a second team All-Pro honoree in 2020. White finished the 2020 campaign with a career-high 140 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He averaged 130 tackles over a three-year span in Tampa Bay.

The fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft also is just 26 years old.

New England needs an influx of talent, including at the linebacker position after it lost captain and starting linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a season-ending injury. Patriots linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Raekwon McMillan have yet to fill the void. They’ve been leaky against the run and susceptible to the pass. Tavai fared better when coming off the edge prior to the Bentley injury.

White might be able help.

It wasn’t long ago he was a productive tackler in the middle of the Tampa Bay defense. He’s showcased the ability to get after the quarterback (23 sacks) and force turnovers (nine), too.

The Patriots are in no position to turn away talent. They need to throw darts at potential, especially when those darts cost them nothing on the open market.