NFL rumors: 3 teams that should sign Kyle Van Noy

Kyle Van Noy becomes a free agent after being released by the New England Patriots.

Veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy has been released by the New England Patriots and will be hitting unrestricted free agency.

2022 will be Van Noy’s age-31 season out of BYU. Though he has played for two other franchises, this was his second stint in New England. The decision to move on from Van Noy was all about creating more cap flexibility. By releasing him, the Patriots save $5 million. Now that Van Noy is free to sign with any team he so desires, what potential landing spots make the most sense?

Here are three new teams he has some familiarity with on their respective coaching staffs.

Kyle Van Noy: 3 potential landing spots for the veteran free agent linebacker

Brian Daboll may need to add a veteran leader to his New York Giants defense

Though he played on the other side of the ball, Van Noy and Brian Daboll have that Patriots connection. While Daboll most recently worked as the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator and Van Noy spent the last two years in New England and with the Miami Dolphins before that, they could help each other out if they reunite as key pieces on the 2021 New York Giants. Rebuilding is fun!

New York may have a ways to go before being competitive, but Van Noy played for the Dolphins and the Detroit Lions. Losing is part of the game, apparently. What is more important though, is Van Noy has seen what winning looks like at the highest level. Though he may be a shell of himself physically, he can sign a one-year deal to help the cash-strapped Giants commence their rebuild.

Josh McDaniels, Dave Ziegler may covet Van Noy’s leadership in Las Vegas

As with Daboll, Josh McDaniels is an offensive-minded head coach. While this is his second stab at being a head coach over in the AFC West, he does have a former Patriots front office executive joining him on the Las Vegas Raiders in new general manager Dave Ziegler. Armed with no state income tax and over $20.6 million in available cap space, maybe the Raiders can bring in Van Noy?

Though the Raiders were a playoff team a year ago, they are far from a complete roster. They are in dire need of a No. 1 wide receiver, as well as a few talented players defensively. While they lucked out in being able to pry Patrick Graham away from the Giants to run the defense, it serves the Silver and Black to have a veteran leader who knows how to win play for them in Van Noy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers win big by hiring Brian Flores to their coaching staff

Even though he is suing the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers getting Brian Flores to be an overqualified linebackers coach will be beneficial to one of the most well-run teams in the league. Pittsburgh has approximately $29.6 million in available salary cap space. Certainly, the Steelers can afford to give one of Flores’ former players some coin to link up with them in Van Noy.

Not only can the Steelers afford him, but he will be going to a more proven defense in Pittsburgh than he would in New York, and certainly than he would in Las Vegas. This is about adding a player to help with chemistry and make a few plays in space to help get this so-so team over the hump in 2022. Of course, the Steelers are going nowhere unless they can solve their quarterbacking issues.

Van Noy may sign elsewhere, but familiarity with coaches on these staffs makes a ton of sense.