The Patriots are releasing their longest-tenured player, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, ESPN first reported.
The move is expected to be made at the start of the new league year, Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, and will save the Patriots over $3.8 million in cap space.
Jennings, 28, was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama and was one of the few players remaining on the team who played under Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel.
He’s tallied 217 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and 25 QB hits in 75 games with 40 starts. His best years came in 2023 and 2024, when he started 30 games as an early-down run stuffer.
Jennings began his career as an off-ball linebacker. He missed the 2021 season due to injury and was moved to outside linebacker in 2022.
The Patriots signed Jennings to a three-year, $12 million extension before the 2024 season. He wasn’t viewed as the best fit for Vrabel’s defense last offseason but he remained on the team and had two sacks in the Patriots’ playoff run.
The move leaves the Patriots with Harold Landry, Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson and Jesse Luketa at defensive end/outside linebacker. One of the team’s internal free agents, K’Lavon Chaisson, reportedly agreed to sign with the Commanders on Wednesday morning.
The Patriots will need to add more help on the edge either through free agency or the draft. Landry and Jones are potential starters, but the Patriots need more juice off the edge in pass-rushing situations. Landry, who missed time late in 2025 with a knee injury, also can’t be counted on to stay healthy all season.
The Patriots hold the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is considered deep at edge defender. They also hold 63rd and 95th overall picks and two selections in the fourth round.
Most of the remaining edge defenders available in free agency are on the older side but could still be value adds on short-term contracts.
A trade between the Raiders and Ravens for pass rusher Maxx Crosby also fell through on Tuesday night when Crosby failed his physical and reverted back to the Raiders. It’s possible that the Patriots could revisit their interest in Crosby, who likely now won’t cost two first-round picks to acquire.