5 players who New England Patriots need to be great in 2019

4. Michael Bennett, DE

Like the case with Trent Brown, Belichick saw one of his best, young starters get poached away in free agency. This time, it was perhaps his best defensive player, Trey Flowers.

Flowers collected 21 sacks and two Super Bowl rings during his time in New England. Now, the defensive end will suit up every week for the Detroit Lions after the team signed him to a five year, $90 million deal this offseason.

Those are big shoes to fill, and it’s tough to lose a player of that caliber, especially when they are only 25 years old. But in typical Belichick fashion, he had a replacement on the way: former Philadelphia Eagle and Seattle Seahawk Michael Bennett.

Yes, Bennett is 33 years old and has lost a step. Although, that doesn’t mean he can’t still get to the quarterback or make plays in the backfield.

Last season Bennett played for the Eagles. He racked up nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss and had 30 quarterback hits. All of those stats either tied career-highs or were his second-highest single-season totals of his career.

Getting to the quarterback is always a must and it’s crucial that Bennett keeps finding his way into the backfield for the Patriots as the team’s lone true, multiple-down pass rusher.