Dolphins release Kyle Van Noy, and here come the Patriots

The Dolphins will likely release Kyle Van Noy, and he stands out as an obvious player to be on the Patriots’ radar this offseason.

The Miami Dolphins signed Kyle Van Noy to a four-year deal last offseason. He is now reportedly set to be a free agent once again after the team decided he’s done in Miami.

The veteran linebacker recorded 69 tackles in 14 games and added six sacks in his lone season with the Dolphins. He took to Twitter to express his frustration with the decision.

Dolphins move on from Van Noy and Patriots could swoop in

A Van Noy release would clear nearly $10 million in cap space as the Dolphins continue building up a young roster. One update on the situation, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is that the Dolphins will first look to trade Van Noy before an official release.

Rapoport mentions the Patriots as a trade candidate and it is easy to see why. Van Noy spent parts of four seasons with the team and won two Super Bowls during his time in New England. He is a veteran who can show up as a captain right away and bring back stability to a Patriots team that struggled in 2020.

Some former teammates are already courting him for a potential return.

News initially broke that Van Noy was released and he put out a statement. Then came the update about the Dolphins seeking a trade. What we do know is that he will not be returning to Miami in 2021 and the Patriots stand out as an option via either free agency or a trade. But knowing Bill Belichick, he may call Miami’s bluff and wait for an eventual release.