The New England Patriots’ front seven saw some major personnel departures last offseason. Dont’a Hightower opted out due to concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic, while fellow starters Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins left for greener pastures in free agency.
Those departures impacted the Patriots’ entire defense during the 2020 season, with the linebacker positions hit particularly hard. The defensive edge was one part of this development. With outside linebacker Van Noy and move options Hightower and Collins no longer part of the equation, the unit had to rely on John Simon as its top option with a bunch of youngsters lining up alongside him.