Report: New England Have Had Multiple Meetings With Linebacker Prospect

The New England Patriots went after linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley a two years ago. According to recent reports, the team may be showing interest in another linebacker.

Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has FaceTimed 2020 NFL Draft prospect Markus Bailey on several occasions. The information was confirmed in a report by Mike Reiss from ESPN.

Bailey is a  two-year captain, three-year Academic All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Purdue. He had excellent coverage and blitzing abilities, and Pro Football Focus sees him as “one of the best off-ball blitzers in the country.”

New England needs a linebacker

The linebacker totaled 52 pressures and 12 1/2 sacks during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He had six interceptions in his college career, including four in his sophomore year. Analysts have discussed his instinctive nature, emphasizing his ability as physical run defender.

Bailey measured in at 6 feet, 235 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. His health condition has been an issue. He suffered two torn ACLs during his time at Purdue. One of his injuries put an end to his 2019 season.

“His combination of versatility and explosiveness had early-round prospect written all over it prior to the injury, but now his future is more uncertain,” Mike Renner wrote in PFF’s 2020 draft guide. “On field, Bailey could not only thump with the best of them, but he could also kick out as an overhang player and mirror slot receivers underneath. At 240 pounds, that’s a unique skill that no other linebacker in this class can quite claim. Add in his prowess as a blitzer and a team may be getting a late-round steal if Bailey returns to full strength in 2020.”

The Patriots a need at linebacker as they lost Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts in free agency.

This means that the organization will either trade for a player or sign someone after the NFL Draft. New England needs to fill up a few positions, including their starting quarterback spot. This will be a long offseason for the Patriots, but Coach Belichick has everything under control