Kyle Van Noy found his fins with the New England Patriots, and he’ll be headed to South Beach to swim with the Miami Dolphins in 2020.
A busy Monday for the Patriots’ AFC East rivals wrapped up with them signing the two-time Super Bowl-winning linebacker to a four-year, $51 million deal. The move will reunite Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, the Patriots’ former defensive coordinator, with his former player.
Both men were standing under a cloud of confetti after winning Super Bowl LIII the last time they wore the same colors.
The sting of watching Van Noy walk out the door is lessened by the fact that the Patriots were never going to offer him the sort of deal they knew he’d command on the open market. It was a situation where the writing was already on the wall.
Van Noy proved to be one of Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s best trades. He essentially flipped a sixth-round draft pick for Van Noy and a seventh in a deal with the Detroit Lions. The veteran linebacker was a major asset on the field and a tremendous locker room leader.
Thank you NE!! Forever grateful!! Legendary!!! ✌🏽✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/sNbc9WNUNG
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) March 17, 2020
Now, a position of strength is suddenly in doubt for the Patriots heading into next season. Jamie Collins is also on the open market and reportedly receiving interest from other teams, including the New Orleans Saints. His potential exit would leave former All-Pro linebacker Dont’a Hightower as the last remaining member of “The Boogeymen.”
There is hope Ja’Whaun Bentley can emerge into more of an impact player for the Patriots, along with Chase Winovich, who proved to be a steal with a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft as a linebacker/edge rusher. The always reliable and underrated veteran John Simon is still under contract as well.
Despite the Patriots’ ability to keep its elite secondary intact, the defensive front could have a much different look in 2020.
Collins could still factor into the team’s plans, assuming the price to retain him is suitable. But it isn’t like the Patriots have a ton of wiggle room to be making blockbuster moves at the moment, especially when they’re still trying to figure out if Tom Brady will be back at quarterback.
Yet, the thought of losing Van Noy and possibly Collins isn’t a good look for a defense that got torched on the ground by better rushing offenses late last season.
One Boogeyman isn’t nearly as scary.