New England linebacker Mack Wilson shared a parting message via Instagram to former Alabama teammate Mac Jones on Sunday after reports that the Patriots plan to trade the quarterback to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As it turns out, Wilson is leaving New England, too.

When his contract with the Patriots expires at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Wilson plans to join the Arizona Cardinals via NFL free agency, NFL Network and ESPN reported on Monday.

At 11 a.m. Monday, NFL players with at least four seasons of experience and an expiring contract could begin negotiating with other teams. Reports indicate Wilson will be moving to the Cardinals for a three-year, $12.75 million deal.

Arizona has reached contract agreements with three other impending free agents on defense — cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols – on Monday.

In 17 games for the Patriots in 2023, Wilson registered 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, three passes defended and two forced fumbles while on the field for 305 defensive snaps and 312 special-teams plays.

A two-time All-State selection at Carver High School in Montgomery, Wilson played at Alabama in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

As a fifth-round rookie for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, Wilson played 943 defensive snaps in 16 games. In next four seasons, though, Wilson played 1,033 defensive snaps – only 90 more than he had in his first campaign – in 57 games. But Wilson took on a larger role for the New England defense as the 2023 season progressed while still seeing regular duty on the Patriots’ special teams.

As an NFL rookie, Wilson entered the Browns’ starting lineup when Christian Kirksey got hurt in the second game. Wilson went on to finish second on Cleveland with 82 tackles that season.

But Wilson went down in training camp on Aug. 18, 2020, with what was described as a significantly hyperextended left knee. The injury caused Wilson to miss the first two games of the season, and he didn’t make the first of his eight starts in 2020 until the sixth game. Wilson’s tackle total dropped to 39 as he played about 40 percent of the snaps in his second season that he did as a rookie.

In 2021, the Browns beefed up their linebackers room, and Wilson finished fifth among Cleveland’s linebackers in defensive playing time.

On March 15, 2022, the Browns traded Wilson to New England for linebacker Chase Winovich. Wilson was on the field for 236 defensive snaps and 284 special-teams plays in 2022, and he re-signed with the Patriots as a free agent last offseason.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.