The New England Patriots have reunited with their former linebacker Kyle Van Noy, the veteran confirmed on social media Wednesday night.
The Miami Dolphins released Van Noy last week, just one season after signing him to a four-year contract worth $ 51 million. The team unsuccessfully tried to trade the linebacker before releasing him.
Van Noy, who played both linebacker and edge rusher for the Dolphins, had 69 tackles and six sacks for the Dolphins in an up-and-down 2020 campaign.
We backkkk !!! #patsnation #LFG #in person pic.twitter.com/wGoj5FTM4z
– Kyle Van Noy (@ KVN_03) March 18, 2021
Van Noy received a two-year contract worth up to $ 13.2 million from the Patriots, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Patriots have focused heavily on the front seven in free agency after reaching agreements with Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, New York Jets defensive lineman Henry Anderson, and Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Matthew Judon, while taking defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr.
A combination of Van Noy and Judon on the edges of the defense could help tackle one of the Patriots’ big fights from 2020.
The Patriots’ defense ranked 26th in the NFL last season, averaging 131.4 rushing yards per game. In addition, hostile rushers averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
Van Noy, a second-round draft pick for the Detroit Lions in 2014, established himself as a starter after being traded to the Patriots in 2016. In four seasons with the Patriots, he had 16.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 221 tackles. He was also part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.
Van Noy, 29, has 358 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions in 95 regular season games over seven seasons.
ESPN writer Cameron Wolfe contributed to this report.