Could Jack Gibbens Be the Patriots' Secret Weapon This Offseason?

Which teams might be in the running? Even though he may not be an every-down starter at linebacker, several teams might be interested in Gibbens’ services. Among them are LB-needy teams such as the Bills, Cowboys, Commanders, Bears or Panthers, or teams looking for upgrades across the board like the Jets or Raiders. And that’s not even accounting for his special teams skills, which might make him attractive for clubs like the Rams.

Why should he be expected back? Gibbens proved himself a solid performer in his first year as a Patriot, and can help out on defense as well as play a core special teams role. While there might be a cap on his upside, there is no denying he can be a valuable rotational and backup piece on defense. Add his longstanding connection with Mike Vrabel and other members of his staff, and you can see why New England might want to retain him. Also, the RFA tender even at the lowest level gives the club a clear advantage over potential competition.

Why should he be expected to leave? Ultimately, money talks. If the Patriots don’t view Gibbens as worthy of a tender and one of the teams vying for his services offers a superior deal and/or roster outlook, he very well could be a goner. Sure, the team likes him, but NFL roster construction only allows for sentimentality to a certain point.

What is his projected free agency outcome? Even though the Patriots could use the lowest available RFA tender at a projected cost of around $3.55 million on Gibbens, they also might want to try to keep him around longer-term; the 26-year-old is a culture fit with a proven track record on defense and special teams. As a consequence, we are predicting that he will not be tendered but instead signed to a two-year, $6 million extension.