Fansided

5 breakout stars to watch for New England Patriots in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 29: Chase Winovich #50 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 29: Chase Winovich #50 of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. DE Chase Winovich

Last April, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots drafted 10 players but only four when it came to the defensive side of the football. And with the 77th overall selection opted for former Wolverine Chase Winovich.

He played in all 16 games and the home playoff tilt vs. the Tennessee Titans. He logged 20 defensive tackles and 5.5 sacks during the regular season and six more stops on special teams. Winovich was also one of the many Patriots to score a touchdown last season when he scooped up a blocked punt and raced to the end zone in the team’s Week 6 Thursday night home win against the New York Giants.

More fansided.com: NFL power rankings: 2020 edition – Chiefs at No. 1

The exuberant 2019 third-round pick from the University of Michigan certainly had his moments during his rookie campaign. And the 6-foot-3, 250-pound edge rusher could push for a bigger role in his second season. If that is the case, he and the rest of the defensive front will have to perform better against the run than it did during the second half of ’19. It’s an opportunity for Winovich to prove he is much more than just a pass-rusher as he finds his place on Belichcik’s defense.

Home/New England Patriots