The New England Patriots selected Purdue linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley with the 143rd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Patriots finally made a selection after trading out of the fourth round.
Bentley is 6’2, 246-pounds, so he’s the prototypical size of a Bill Belichick linebacker. He also runs a 4.75s 40 yard dash and a 7.12s three cone, so he has quality speed, and put up a beastly 31 reps on the bench. He was a four-year starter.
That said, he is considered a run defender and not a coverage linebacker so his selection is an immediate challenge to Elandon Roberts. Bentley collected 97 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 3 pass break-ups last year as a All Big 10 Honorable Mention.
The NFL.com scouting report of Bentley is that he struggles to change direction and is better as a straight-forward tackler. He doesn’t seem to fit the Patriots need of a coverage linebacker.
Bentley will join Roberts, Nicholas Grigsby, and Harvey Langi in competition to back-up Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Marquis Flowers.