Patriots, Ja’Whaun Bentley agree to terms on max contract extension
Ja’Whaun Bentley‘s run with the New England Patriots will continue for another two years. The two sides agreed to terms on a new contract extension, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Bentley agreed to a two-year extension for an $18.75 million max deal, per the report. He will receive $9 million guaranteed, as well.
In 2022, Bentley posted the most productive season of his career in the NFL. He piled up 125 tackles, three sacks and six quarterback hits, all career-highs. The linebacker also had an interception and a fumble recovery for the Patriots.
Bentley has made significant contributions for the Patriots defense over the past three seasons. He’s increased his tackle totals each of the past three seasons, tallying 91 in 2020, 109 during the 2021 campaign and a career-best 125 last fall.
The former Purdue standout has spent his entire five-year career in New England. Overall, he’s recorded 383 stops, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Bentley was also a member of the Super Bowl LIII-winning team.
Dan Orlovsky sees promise in Mac Jones, Patriots offense
Now that the Patriots have secured the stay of another defensive starter in Bentley, let’s turn attention to the offense. That’s where everyone has concerns anyway, right?
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky told the Pat McAfee Show recently that he thinks there’s reason to be optimistic about Mac Jones and the future of the offense. That’s especially true if the team can land wide receiver free agent DeAndre Hopkins.
“I feel better about Mac Jones’ situation as it sits here today,” Orlovsky said on the Pat McAfee Show. “I will feel much better if they bring D-Hop — I’ve been adamant, they need to get D-Hop into that building.”
Why is the former NFL quarterback so high on Jones entering 2023? He explained.
“The reason I’ve been a big fan of Mac Jones is because I called a couple of his games at Alabama, his last year there. And, in the game, you can appreciate he’s a good player, but you look at him through the lens — at least I did — of an NFL prospect and he doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of what the stars look like athletically,” Orlovsky said.
“Then I studied him and, man, he has everything that it takes to be a very good player at that position.”
This will be Jones’ third year in the NFL. Will he make the necessary leap to keep his job in New England?
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