FOXBOROUGH — We're still a long ways from the season, and things like health will certainly become a factor when all is said and done, but after catching a glimpse of Michael Bennett during a limited appearance in his first Patriots training camp practice, it seems like Trey Flowers might just be Nate Soldier-ed or Malcolm Butler-ed.
You know what I mean. When both Solder and Butler became free agents last season, a sizable portion of the fanbase thought there was no way the Patriots were going to be able to overcome their losses in 2018. Then the Patriots traded for little-known tackle Trent Brown, and signed veteran Jason McCourty to help replace both. And, wouldn't you know it, the Patriots got better play from both players and their units at a fraction of the cost.
Bennett just might do the same in relation to Trey Flowers.
After a sellar final three seasons with the Patriots, Flowers, 26, received a five-year, $90-million contract from Matt Patricia and the Lions that included $50 million guaranteed. Flowers will make about $29 million in cash this season.
The Patriots reacted by trading a fifth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Bennett, 34. He received a two-year contract worth $16.75 million with $4 million guaranteed and it includes a team option for next season. Bennett will make $8.5 million in cash this year, and $16.75 million if he's around for a second season.
But the play — again, if healthy, the nine-year age difference could be huge — should not be discounted. It could be an upgrade in this system.
Bennett, who just got off a flight from Hawaii on Sunday morning, showed that in just a handful of meaningful snaps. Consider:
- During an early session focused on the run, Bennett, from Flowers' left end spot, showed great quickness and executed a phenomenal swim move on Shaq Mason — one of the best guards in the league — that quickly got Bennett into the backfield to thud the running back.
- On the next snap, Bennett stood up Mason, shoved him back and made the tackle again.
- When practice shifted to 1-on-1s, Bennett jumped into the very first snap and quickly danced around Marcus Cannon (a very good tackle) to register a would-be sack.
- Later, Bennett shifted inside to the three-technique against guard Ted Karras. Bennett faked outside, then ducked inside for another would-be sack.
- Finally, in the goal-line period, Bennett jumped in for a few snaps and each time he penetrated and helped the left side of the line stop the running back cold.
"It was exciting," Bennett said. "I think that being able to get out there on the field with those guys and spend the offseason with them, and finally get a chance to be on the field is good. All these guys, they're great players, and to finally get the chance to have some type of camaraderie with them is just a special opportunity."
Here's another thing about Bennett: you won't find many veterans who report to the team and practice in pads on the same day. Most, in conjunction with the team, take their time getting reacclimated to the game. That wasn't the case for Bennett, who wanted to throw himself right into the mix.
"It's important – just the game," Bennett said when I asked him about not waiting to jump in. "You want to prove to your teammates that you love the game. I grew up and this game has been a part of my life for over 20 years, so every time I step on the field and I've got teammates who believe in me, I just want to come out and show them that in every single moment, I'm going to try to go as hard as I can.
"When you're on a new team and you have to build new relationships, the only type of way to build new relationships is to show everyone the type of work ethic you've got, what you believe in, and how you carry yourself. Then, the relationship grows from there, especially when you've been in the league for a long time and you have to come to a new team."
Truth be told, Bennett taking it upon himself to show his new teammates how committed he is to them is something Flowers would have done. Flowers was one of the most unselfish players and hardest workers on the Patriots when he was here. That he switched from the right to left side to accommodate Adrian Clayborn — heading into contract year — spoke volumes of who Flowers was as a teammate.
But when it comes to on-field play, Bennett may prove more valuable to these Patriots. Flowers was certainly productive with the Patriots — he led the team in every pass-rushing stat in his final three seasons and played the run well — but there's a reason why he was drafted in the fourth round (2015). Flowers was incredibly strong and relentless, but he didn't have a whole lot of upside as an athlete or a variety of moves to attack a blocker. Most of the time, he produced due to his strength, long arms and non-stop motor.
Bennett, as he showed in just a handful of snaps on Sunday, is much more refined as a rusher and an overall line player. He is one of the best in the league at attacking blockers in a variety of ways while also staying within the integrity of the scheme. What that means is Bennett will mix up his moves — outside speed on one, bull rush on another, and a combination on another snap — but he maintains the integrity of the gap he is assigned so the defense continues to function.
If Bennett continues to be a force like he showed on Sunday, that will force offensive coordinators to pay extra attention to him with additional blockers. Flowers, for how productive he was, wasn't perceived as a dangerous threat by opposing offenses. They didn't gameplan for him, or put additional resources toward blocking him.
Bennett, who put up comparable stats and snaps to Flowers the previous two seasons, will need extra attention and should help open things up for some of his teammates.
If that's the case, Flowers will end up like Soldier and Butler: respected for the productive Patriots they were, but replaced on the field for players as good or better, and much cheaper.
Some first day.