New England Patriots free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) during a game between the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys on November 24, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 1, 2019: Inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich #44 and defensive back Kam Kelly #29 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a tackle on a punt return in the second quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 20-13. (Photo by: 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) /

4. ILB Tyler Matakevich (Pittsburgh Steelers)

It really began in a Week 8 home victory over the Cleveland Browns. Bill Belichick’s club would come away with a 27-13 win but arguably the bigger headline was the fact that visiting running back Nick Chubb ran through the Patriots’ defense for 131 yards on 20 carries. All told, the Browns rushed for 159 yards on 22 attempts despite losing by 14 points. When the defending Super Bowl champions a week later on Sunday night at Baltimore, the Ravens rolled up 210 yards on the ground and handed Belichick’s squad their first loss of ’19.

All told, the Patriots allowed a total of 120.6 yards per game on the ground in their final 10 outings. That includes 201 yards via Derrick Henry and the Titans in the wild card loss at home. In their first seven contests, New England surrendered a total of 523 rushing yards – an average of 74.7 yards per game. And this offseason, linebacker Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy could hit the open market if not re-signed by March 18.

Linebacker Tyler Matakevich was a seventh-round pick by the Steelers in 2016. The former Temple standout led the club in special teams tackles each of the past four seasons and could also provide depth at inside linebacker. It could be one step forward as the Patriots address their front seven and help another area as well.

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