Patriots releasing 16 million starter should interest Giants Eagles and Pa

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The recently cut ties with a starting linebacker who could draw interest from the , and .  That linebacker is Jahlani  Ben Deluzio Jersey Tavai, with two years remaining on his $16 million contract following an injury-shortened 2025 campaign that saw him appear in 12 games.  Tavai has struggled in coverage the past two seasons, but in the two seasons prior he was well above average in that area. He has consistently been a better run defender and tackler, and he can be an a set in the pa s-rush.  In 2025, Tavai posted a run defense grade of 75.8, the second-best mark of his career, per .  His lackluster 59.5 coverage grade was nothing to write home about, but he did post an elite 82.7 in coverage in 2023, so he's clearly capable of much better.  It's not hard to see why the Packers, Giants and Eagles could have interest.  The Packers and Eagles have suffered lo ses at the linebacker position in 2026, with Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean both departing for the in free agency.  New York is in a better spot at the position with the team re-signing Micah McFadden and signing Tremaine Edmunds, but McFadden is coming off an injury-shortened campaign and the Giants could use more depth as a result.  With Tavai's stock down following a disappointing season, he shouldn't be expensive, which could also make him a bargain.  We would peg the Packers and Eagles as more likely to sign Tavai than the Giants, as those two teams have a much bigger need at linebacker than New York.  More NFL News  Justin Williams Jersey