One of the longest-tenured players on the New England Patriots will be released. Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, selected by New England in the second round of the 2009 draft, is about to become a free agent.
Patriots to release veteran tackle Sebastian Vollmer after he missed all of 2016
The two-time Super Bowl champion is no longer a member of the Patriots.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots’ cutting of Vollmer, first reported by Tom Pelissero of USA Today, will free up $2.25 million in cap space, with zero dead money. The move makes a lot of sense for New England, as Marcus Cannon effectively replaced Vollmer in the starting lineup last season following Vollmer’s shoulder surgery.
The right tackle’s shoulder surgery actually prevented him from hitting free agency, which he would’ve done in 2017 had he been able to stay healthy. Because he missed an entire year on the PUP list, 2016 didn’t sound as an accrued season and Vollmer’s contract was extended another year.
Nevertheless, Vollmer will now get a chance to test the free agent market anyway, as cutting him was a no-brainer move for New England. The team’s decision to extend Cannon in November all but guaranteed Vollmer’s impending free agency.
However, he may decide to wrap up his career rather than take the field again. Lingering hip issues may force the aging veteran into retirement, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Vollmer has yet to play in a Pro Bowl, but he earned a second-team All-Pro designation back in 2010. The 6’8 tackle has played in 88 games, starting 80 of them. Vollmer might be best known for his being born in Germany, and the video where he teaches Rob Gronkowski some German.
The veteran tackle will certainly be an interesting free agent, as his age (he’ll be 33 this summer) and somewhat recent shoulder surgery will surely scare some teams off. That said, he’s still a talented player who will likely find an opportunity somewhere, potentially even in a starting role.
As we’ve learned in years past, teams love to overpay recent Super Bowl champions, as well as former New England Patriots players. Vollmer has both of those things going for him, so he could potentially surprise with a nice contract in free agency.
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