Jack Gibbens
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The Patriots are set to make big decision on Jack Gibbens' future as free agency looms
The New England Patriots have been very involved in the rumor mill ahead of the start of free agency. The team has been linked to several big-name free agents, and while they missed out on a trade for Maxx Crosby, it seems like they are still firmly in the hunt for Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Of course, the Pats also have several of their own players that they need to take care of before the market opens. One of them is linebacker Jack Gibbens, who is set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. While the front office hasn’t made a decision on how it will handle Gibbens’ free agency just yet, it sounds like a decision is on the horizon.
Patriots Insider Provides Update on Jack Gibbens’ Free Agency
Mike Reiss
Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (one viewpoint on why TE could be team’s top target; A.J. Brown; Christian Gonzalez; decision due on LB Jack Gibbens; taking stock of Patriots’ 20 draft picks over next 2 years; NFL combine drills etc.)
Gibbens was one of the more underrated signings as part of the Patriots’ spending spree last offseason, as he signed a modest one-year, $1.3 million contract to fill in as a backup linebacker and special teams ace. However, due to injuries, Gibbens ended up playing more than anyone could have expected him to.
In 17 games, Gibbens racked up 81 tackles, one sack, four pass deflections, and one forced fumble. Gibbens was particularly impactful late in the year when Robert Spillane was dealing with a handful of injuries, as he was able to step into the starting lineup and fill in for Spillane during his absences.
With Gibbens set for restricted free agency, New England has the inside track when it comes to re-signing him. However, the team must decide whether or not it wants to tender him before the start of free agency. According to Patriots insider Mike Reiss of ESPN, he believes that the Pats will place the right-of-first-refusal tender on Gibbens in an effort to avoid potentially losing him for nothing.
“Clarity should be coming this week with Patriots restricted free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens,” Reiss wrote. “It’s hard to imagine the Patriots walking away from the valuable Gibbens, who stepped in for injured starter Robert Spillane down the stretch as the primary communicator wearing the green dot on his helmet, so the right-of-first-refusal tender would be the likely target.”
What Should the Patriots Do with Jack Gibbens?
Jack Gibbens of the New England Patriots
GettyJack Gibbens of the New England Patriots
There are three potential tenders the Patriots could use on Gibbens (first-round tender, second-round tender, and the aforementioned right-of-first-refusal tender), but the price of these tenders has increased substantially this offseason. As a result, teams across the league are simply not tendering players (making them an unrestricted free agent) or working on getting contract extensions done beforehand in order to avoid having to deal with this.
The Pats haven’t done that with Gibbens, though, meaning that they may have to tender him in order to keep him in town. The price of the right-of-first-refusal tender is set to be $3.52 million this offseason, and should New England apply this tender to Gibbens, it gives the team the ability to match an offer sheet from another team (should he receive one). A contract extension would be ideal, but if N.E. can’t do that, this seems to be the best path forward for the time being.