5 best training camp battles for Patriots in 2019

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JUNE 5: New England Patriots’ Chase Winovich (52) adjusts his helmet as he heads into Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on June 5, 2019. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

4. Left defensive end

Deatrich Wise Jr. vs. Chase Winovich

It was an offseason in which the defending Super Bowl champion took their share of hits on the defensive line. Coveted pass-rusher Trey Flowers signed a whopping five-year, $90 million deal (via Spotrac) to rejoin former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in Detroit. The club also saw 2105 first-round pick Malcom Brown, whose fifth-year option was not picked up by the organization, leave for the Big Easy and the New Orleans Saints.

Of course, the Pats didn’t stand pat during the offseason when it came to this area. The club swung a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire veteran defensive end Michael Bennett. New England also added Mike Pennel, late of the New York Jets.

Meanwhile, with the first of two third-round selections in April, Bill Belichick chose University of Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich. Longtime NFL writer Bob McGinn got the word on the former Wolverine from a scout (via Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal). “What a (bleep) wild horse rider guy he is. He is going to play 10 years in the NFL. I don’t give a (bleep) what anybody says. He must be in the huddle when they call the plays because he gets to the ball.”

Deatrich Wise Jr. has played in all 32 regular-season games for the Pats since being selected in the fourth round in 2017. The former University of Arkansas product has made a combined eight starts and totaled 9.5 sacks. He’s also just been played on the team’s PUP list heading into camp. Depending on when he is activated, could Winovich get a jump on a starting job?

Next: No. 3

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