Ja’Whaun Bentley figures to be a big part of the Patriots linebacking core for the foreseeable future. Right now, he just wants to find a role.
In what was an up-and-down season for him, he played in all 16 games for the Patriots in 2019. He saw limited playing time due to the depth at linebacker. With players such as Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts leaving the team for free agency, Bentley could see increased usage in 2020.
Bentley managed to put up decent numbers in 2019, recording 44 tackles and a pass deflection. Now, he wants to establish himself as a key component of the linebacking corps.
“I would say this year, just like every year, just looking to find your role,” Bentley told reporters on Wednesday, per the Patriots’ website. “Each guy has a role to play. I feel like we stress that a whole lot as an organization. Whatever that role may be that year, I’m going to look to progress as well as find as many opportunities as the team needs to be filled.”
The Purdue product is going to have to build on the first two seasons of his career. If those are any indication of what is to come, New England could have a stellar player on their hands. Bentley admitted Collins and Van Noy took him under their wing during and after their stints in New England.
“First of all, I’d like to say Kyle and Jamie are two very good players, two very good vets to have around, along with [Dont’a] Hightower,” Bentley said. “They were great guys, so throughout the season, of course we talked and we had a lot of great conversations with me about that, and we will continue those conversations. I won’t really get into depth what they are about, but they were extremely beneficial and something that I will remember and build off of.”
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