The New England Patriots are releasing veteran cornerback Terrance Mitchell and linebacker Harvey Langi by Tuesday’s roster cut deadline, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Mitchell’s release comes as a bit of a surprise considering there’s a lot of youth in the defensive backfield for the Patriots. The veteran journeyman had experience on his side, along with a head coach that typically prioritizes experience over youth.
But coach Bill Belichick must really be impressed by what he’s seen from rookies Jack Jones and Marcus Jones. Both players have had a really strong training camp, including some breakout preseason performances.
They flashed enough to push Mitchell off the roster.
The 30-year-old cornerback has bounced around eight different teams in total, including multiple stops at the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. He started 13 games for the Texans last season and had 10 pass break-ups and one interception.
Meanwhile, Langi has had a hard time standing out in a deep linebacking corps. The Patriots are aiming to get younger and more athletic at the position, and they didn’t view the 29-year-old as someone with the best chance of helping them in that regard.