ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that Michael Bennett will be leaving the Patriots on Twitter just hours ago.
New England is trading DE Michael Bennett to the Dallas Cowboys for 7th-round pick that can go to a 6th-round pick in 2021, league sources tell @Schultz_Report and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 24, 2019
Michael Bennett will not be returning to the Patriots next season and has been traded to the Cowboys, sources confirm. Michael Bennett was the defensive end for the Seahawks when they won the Super Bowl in 2013, but since then he’s run through a number of teams without finding one that sticks. Bennett was drafted by the Patriots in 2018 after bouncing between the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Eagles for several years. However, he struggled while with the Patriots, and was suspended for one game last season for psychological conflict with his coach. It’s hard not to associate this change with that fight, since he was traded less than a week after it happened. Depending on his performance, the Patriots will receive either a seventh- or sixth-round pick in exchange.
The move was an obvious one for the Patriots and an interesting one for the Cowboys. It was clear the difficulties he was having with Belichick were affecting the team negatively. His contract was thought of as difficult to unload so it’s surprising the Cowboys signed on, although they obviously were willing to take that gamble and improve their defensive line.
Bennett played college football for Texas A&M in 2005 to 2008. His first NFL season was in 2009, when he was drafted by the Seahawks. He later played for the Buccaneers and was returned to the Seahawks in 2013. In addition to his Super Bowl win in 2013, he has three Pro Bowl wins under his belt and was voted Pro Bowl Defensive MVP in 2015.
