Harold Landry Iii

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		113	446	59.0	2
2025		15	49	8.5	0
2024		17	71	9.0	0
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Patriots just pulled off a highway robbery, signing Harold Landry III to what amounts to a massive steal at just $0.8M per year despite $26M in guaranteed money — an A+ CVI that screams team-friendly deal. Getting a solid starter-caliber linebacker at below-market rates is exactly the kind of shrewd maneuvering that builds sustainable rosters, especially when you consider that competent edge rushers typically command $8-15M annually in today's market. The contract structure is fascinating with its heavy guarantee load relative to the minuscule annual average, suggesting either an incentive-heavy back-loaded deal or creative accounting that gives New England incredible flexibility while providing Landry security. This move reeks of a player prioritizing situation and opportunity over immediate cash, which often signals both character and confidence in his ability to earn a bigger payday down the line. The Patriots essentially bought themselves elite-level positional value at backup money, the kind of transaction that separates good front offices from great ones.

Performance Analysis

Harold Landry III arrives in New England as a proven pass-rush commodity, an eight-year veteran with 113 career games and a reputation built on relentless edge pressure. His current season earns a C+ grade, reflecting a player in transition rather than decline. Among Patriots linebackers, he remains the most reliable source of backfield disruption. The numbers tell a split story this year. His sack rate of 0.57 per game is genuinely elite, nearly double the NFL average of 0.23, rivaling production from names like Matthew Judon in his prime years. However, his tackles-per-game sit at 3.27 against an NFL average of 3.80, and his TFL rate of 0.33 trails the 0.40 league benchmark, exposing real limitations against the run and in open-field pursuit. Landry is a specialized weapon — a devastating pass rusher who can be schemed around when teams commit to the ground game. The season trend warrants honest concern. After back-to-back B grades in 2023 and 2024, he has slipped to a D+ in 2025, suggesting the elite pass-rush production may not fully offset the broader playmaking regression. At 29, with eight seasons of tread on the tires, the question becomes whether New England can maximize his sack-generating ceiling in a role tailored to his strengths. If coaching staff deploys him as a situational rusher rather than a every-down linebacker, his value rises sharply. Watch whether his tackle and TFL numbers stabilize — those will determine if the 2025 dip is a blip or a trend.

Current Sentiment

Harold Landry III's public perception has taken a significant hit this offseason, earning a D- sentiment grade as questions swirl around his durability and future with the New England Patriots. Media coverage has zeroed in on his injury concerns and uncertain roster status, with head coach Mike Vrabel's cautious comments about Landry's availability serving as a red flag for the veteran edge rusher's reliability. The narrative around his Patriots tenure has shifted from productive contributor to potential cap casualty, with reports suggesting the organization views him as expendable in their defensive rebuild rather than a cornerstone piece. Landry's own comments about teammate relationships carry an ominous finality that has only intensified speculation about an impending departure. Despite accumulating 59 career sacks over his NFL career, the confluence of age, health questions, and minimal contract leverage has created a perception that he's fighting an uphill battle to prove his worth. The media framing suggests April's draft will essentially determine whether New England sees any long-term role for the veteran linebacker, painting him as a player whose best days may be behind him.