Mike Vrabel and the Patriots have splurged on defense so far as free agency heats up.

Outside linebacker Robert Spillane is one of the handful of deals the team has agreed to already. Spillane is reportedly heading to Foxborough on a three-year, $37.5 million dollar agreement with $20.6 million guaranteed. Nothing can be made official until the league year starts on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., but the team’s willingness to spend – even if it hasn’t been much on offense yet – is a good sign.

Spillane will spend his eighth, ninth and 10th seasons in the league with the Patriots after entering the NFL in 2018 out of Western Michigan. Spillane has played in 86 career games, playing in all 17 each of the last two years. He’s started 50 of those games with Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Tennessee, where he spent some time with Mike Vrabel.

Spillane’s got 8.5 career sacks, but is one of the best linebacker in the league against the run. He’s got 497 career tackles (301 solo) and 27 tackles for loss. He’s got a forced fumble and a two fumble recoveries as well with six interceptions and a 33-yard pick six back in 2020. Perhaps above any number, he’s was just serving as a Raiders captain, meaning guys respect him on and off the field and his leadership abilities.

Spillane may not have been the flashiest name, but he’s a reliable, tough football player who can tackle and sure up a weakened Pats run defense.