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One of Patriots’ top defensive players in 2023 reportedly testing free agency
Mack Wilson was a dependable linebacker for the Patriots with strong coverage stats in 2023.
The Patriots will reportedly have some competition if they hope to re-sign one of their top defensive players from the 2023 season.
Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson plans on testing the free-agent market this week, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive. Per Daniels, New England has been working to sign Wilson before the free-agency bidding officially begins, issuing a “competitive 3-year offer”.”
Wilson, 26, could be a coveted target for several teams this spring thanks to his coverage skills and strong performance during the 2023 season. Over 17 games last season, Wilson recorded 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four QB hits and two forced fumbles.
As noted by Daniels, Pro Football Focus gave Wilson an 86.9 coverage grade in 2023 — one of the top marks among NFL linebackers last year.
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Acquired by New England in a deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, Wilson re-upped with the Patriots on a one-year extension last March.
Back in early January, Wilson acknowledged that Jerod Mayo’s role on New England’s coaching staff in 2024 likely would have a significant impact on his offseason plans.
“It’s really, like I say, second to none. I mean obviously you have coaches who coach the game and obviously played the game maybe when he was younger, but having a guy like Mayo, who played the game at a high level,” Wilson told A to Z Sports’ Sophie Sophie Weller of playing for Mayo. “(He) was drafted first round, was Pro Bowl, high accolades, things like that. Been there.
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“Same organization and same practice fields, same locker room. It just hits different, honestly. I’ve just been blessed to be able to be coached by him for two years. Learned a lot from him. And hopefully this is not the last time I’m being coached by him.”
With Mayo now taking the helm as Patriots head coach, Wilson has plenty of reasons to stay in Foxborough moving forward. But the linebacker will assess the state of the market before making his final decision.
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