The are Akiem Hicks Jersey releasing veteran linebacker , according to . This move does seem to be, in part, motivated by the salary cap. By releasing Van Noy, New England clears $5 million in salary cap space as the NFL inches closer to the start of the new league year and the official start of free agency on March 16. The cap savings by moving on from Van Noy nearly doubles the Patriots total space. As for Van Noy, he is now able to sign with a team immediately.The 30-year-old was playing in his second stint with the Patriots last season after spending the 2020 campaign as a member of the . He was released by Miami on March 10 of Darnell Mooney Jersey last year and only took nine days from that release for Van Noy to find his way back to Foxborough, inking a two-year, $13.2 million contract with the Patriots.In 16 games played in 2021 (eight starts), Van Noy Margus Hunt Jersey totaled 66 tackles and five sacks, while forcing two fumbles and recording one interception. Van Noy's sacks were second on the team and only looking up to , while his tackles ranked fourth-most on the roster. LAC MLB #8 Van Noy originally came to the league as a second-round draft choice of the in 2014. He was then traded to the Patriots amid the 2016 season and it was in New England where he blo somed into an impact player under Bill Belichick. In his first tenure with the team, he Justin Fields Jersey helped the Patriots win two Super Bowl titles and reach a third. Linebacker was already a pre sing need for the Patriots heading into the offseason and this release only furthers that point. , , and are among the other linebackers on the Patriots' roster set to his free agency, again leaving a big Dick Butkus Jersey hole to fill. New England could look to get younger -- and faster -- at this position via the NFL Draft where it holds the 21st overall pick in the first round. In his most recent mock draft, has the Patriots selecting Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd at No. 21 overall.