Patriots draft DE Chase Winovich in the third round

FOXBORO – With the 77th pick in the third round, the Patriots added depth to their defensive line by selecting Chase Winovich from Michigan.

The All-American was a standout edge rusher for the Blue and Gold over the last three seasons. Last season, he led Michigan with 17 tackles for loss to go with 69 tackles and five sacks. In 2017, Winovich led Michigan with 79 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

Winovich is said to have a high motor, which is why many [...]

FOXBORO – With the 77th pick in the third round, the Patriots added depth to their defensive line by selecting Chase Winovich from Michigan.

The All-American was a standout edge rusher for the Blue and Gold over the last three seasons. Last season, he led Michigan with 17 tackles for loss to go with 69 tackles and five sacks. In 2017, Winovich led Michigan with 79 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

Winovich is said to have a high motor, which is why many saw him as a fit for the Patriots. On NFL.com, he was described as a “Physical edge defender who plays the game like he has zombie blood pumping through his veins.” 

At 6-foot-3, 256 pounds, Winovich profiles as an edge rusher in the Patriots defense. He’ll likely add depth and versatility for Bill Belichick’s group. Some draft pundits profiled him as a defensive end while others saw him as an outside linebacker. He’s in a similar mold to Rob Ninkovich.

Winovich could give the Patriots depth behind Kyle Van Noy, who is a free agent in 2020. He’s also a similar size to Derek Rivers, who was drafted in the third round in 2017. With Trey Flowers in Detroit, the Patriots were looking to revamp their pass rush. They traded for Michael Bennett in March. The team also has John Simon, Deatrich Wise, Ufomba Kamalu, Keionta Davis and Trent Harris at defensive end.