The New England Patriots are keeping their 2022 linebacker corps intact.
On Thursday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the team had reached a one-year, $2.2 million agreement to bring back versatile linebacker Mack Wilson.
There were multiple teams in the hunt for Wilson’s services, but the Patriots came out on top in an effort to keep the speedy playmaker on defense and special teams. Wilson was a break from the traditional linebackers that coach Bill Belichick tended to gravitate towards—the plodding tanks that shut down runs and bullied their way into the offensive backfield.
He’s a slimmer version with great sideline-to-sideline speed, which helps at defending those pesky running backs that love to sneak out of the offensive backfield for short passes.
The #Patriots are re-signing LB Mack Wilson to a one-year deal worth up to $2.2 million, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2023
The Patriots have done a tremendous job of keeping their talented defense mostly intact from last season. Wilson gives them another athletic option in an AFC East division full of elite offensive playmakers.