New England Patriots should bring back Kyle Van Noy

The New England Patriots are in a much different situation than we are used to seeing this offseason. This team is loaded with cap space, giving them a great opportunity to aggressively attack in free agency if they wish. According to Over the Cap, the New England Patriots have the second-most cap space in the entire league with nearly $70 million to work with.

The Patriots have holes on both sides of the ball to take care of in free agency and have the cap space needed to attack those needs with real impact players. However, Bill Belichick and company always have the compensatory pick formula in mind. Do not be surprised if they make players who were released by other teams a priority. In particular, Kyle Van Noy stands out as an ideal fit for the team.

Van Noy signed with the Miami Dolphins last offseason after spending the previous three and a half years in New England. Van Noy played well in Miami last season but the team cut bait with him to save cap space. The Patriots helped Van Noy get his career on track after trading for him during the 2016 season and a return to New England would make sense for both sides.

Van Noy is a tough and physical linebacker who shows great versatility at the position. He is a tremendous run defender, can line up and rush the passer on the edge and shows impressive zone coverage skills. Simply put, Van Noy’s versatility is extremely valuable on the defensive side of the ball and makes him an ideal fit for the New England Patriots. Do not be surprised to see the team make him a priority when free agency opens.

Linebacker is not a massive need for the Patriots, especially with Dont’a Hightower expected to be back next season. That being said, Van Noy is a fantastic football player who has proven himself as a premier player in their defense. The Pats can afford to make major additions in free agency this offseason and Van Noy stands out as an obvious target for the team.