He’s a tough trade because he’s clearly not back to speed yet and they’re just easing him in. Mayo is certainly in an interesting position because suddenly he’s not that critical to the team, at least at this point. Of course we’d love to see him get back his explosive speed in the next couple months, but Collins and Hightower are just so good now, and there are multiple edge options as well. It’s a fact that this defense won’t live or die whether or not Mayo returns to form.
If the Pats pick up his option after this season it will be a $11.6 million cap hit and I have trouble seeing that happening no matter how much they love Mayo’s leadership. In a perfect world Mayo starts to come on late and really shines playing next to the two best linebackers he’s ever had with him. From 2008-2011 he was really the only good three-down linebacker we had, and even then I felt like he was missing that special awareness in coverage that someone like Bruschi had.
Still, I think this might be his last season with the Patriots. Perhaps they decline his option and try to work out a new deal, but him putting together a season that warrants that option money seems nearly impossible.
