The New England Patriots and their longest-tenured player will cut ties after six seasons. Anfernee Jennings, who first joined the team as a third-round draft pick in 2020, will be released on Wednesday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN was first to report the news.
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Playing college football under Nick Saban at the University of Alabama, Jennings was selected 87th overall by the Bill Belichick-led Patriots in 2020. Primarily used as a role player early on, he took a step in his development when Pro Bowler Matthew Judon missed most of the 2023 season due to injury. Jennings moved into a starting role and became one of the top run-defending outside linebackers in football.
He returned as a starter the following year under new head coach Jerod Mayo, but saw his role change when Mike Vrabel took over the following year. While his workload increased as the year went on, Jennings still ended the season with a defensive playing time share of only 32% — his lowest since 2022.
The New England Patriots are continuing to reshape their roster as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season. Reports indicate that the team plans to release veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai as part of a series of offseason roster moves. The decision comes ahead of the start of the league’s new year and free agency period, when teams typically adjust their rosters to create salary cap space and add new talent.
Tavai, 29, spent the last five seasons with the Patriots after originally being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his time in New England, he became a regular contributor on defense and started 51 games for the team. Across his career, Tavai has recorded more than 460 tackles, along with multiple tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles.
However, his role with the Patriots decreased during the 2025 season. Injuries and roster changes limited his playing time, and he appeared in only 12 games while recording 42 tackles—significantly fewer than in previous seasons when he surpassed 110 tackles. Despite the reduced role, he still contributed during the playoffs and remained a respected presence in the locker room.
The release is part of a broader strategy by the Patriots’ front office to restructure the defense and free up cap space ahead of free agency. Teams often make such moves to create financial flexibility and pursue younger players or key acquisitions who can strengthen the roster for the upcoming season.
For Tavai, the release could provide an opportunity to join another NFL team where he may compete for a starting role. With his experience and strong run-defending ability, he is expected to attract interest from teams seeking veteran depth at linebacker.
In total, he leaves the Patriots with 79 combined regular season and playoff games on his résumé. Jennings registered 233 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and recoveries each.
The 28-year-old, who was entering the final year of his current contract with a salary cap hit of $4.87 million, is the second edge to leave the Patriots on Wednesday. K’Lavon Chaisson’s departure to the Washington Commanders was reported just minutes earlier.
NFL free agency and the 2026 league year will start at 4 p.m. ET.
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