Michael Bennett has long been a New England Patriots target.
In an interview with ESPN, the defensive end revealed that Bill Belichick had attempted to acquire Bennett for a long time before finally landing him this week.
“The Patriots have been trying to trade for me for two years. Last year they tried to get me, the year before they tried to get me,” he told ESPN at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium on March 12.
Indeed, the Patriots tried stealing Bennett away from the Eagles last offseason. The Patriots extended an offer for Bennett amid trade negotiations between the Seahawks and the Eagles, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Seattle rejected the offer.
Finally, New England traded for Bennett and a seventh-round pick at the start of the league year while sending a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. Bennett’s trade came right before New England watched defensive end Trey Flowers depart in free agency. The Patriots also cut defensive end Adrian Clayborn on Friday.
