Source: Patriots planning to release LB Bentley

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots plan to release veteran starting linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley on Friday, according to a source.

Bentley, a three-time captain who was entering his eighth season with the team, posted a farewell message on X.

New England‼️
Thank You for Everything‼️
It's Been a Blessing 🖤🎱

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bentley totaled more than 100 tackles in each of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, setting a career high with 122 in 2022. He tore his left pectoral muscle in Week 2 of last season, missing the rest of the year, and said last weekend at a season-ticket member event that he had recently been fully cleared.

Earlier in March, when the Patriots signed former Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year, $33 million contract that could be worth up to $37.5 million, it sparked a question of whether Bentley's spot on the team was in jeopardy.

Then New England matched Las Vegas' two-year offer sheet for restricted free agent linebacker Christian Elliss that is worth up to $13.5 million, which further increased the team's financial commitment at the position.

Bentley, 28, was scheduled to earn $4.35 million in base salary this season. He also was set to earn per-game roster bonuses of $60,000 and had a $130,000 workout bonus (the team's voluntary offseason program begins April 7).

Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots plan to adopt a more aggressive defensive scheme, and that also could have contributed to the anticipated release of Bentley, who was considered an ideal fit in the old Bill Belichick/Jerod Mayo scheme that placed a high value on run-stuffing linebackers who play downhill.

Bentley initially joined New England as a fifth-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2018. He was the first three-time captain in Purdue history.