Chase Winovich sports long blonde hair and an incredible football name. But his tenure with the Patriots will go down as forgettable.
He’s the team’s latest top draft pick to flameout.
The Patriots traded Winovich to the Browns Tuesday in exchange for Mack Wilson, an undersized linebacker out of Alabama who was taken 78 slots behind Winovich in the 2019 NFL Draft. After recording 11 sacks in his first two seasons, Winovich seemingly fell out of favor with Bill Belichick last year. The Michigan product played sparingly and was inactive for the Patriots’ playoff loss to the Bills.
There are indications that Winovich can reset his career with the Browns. He tied for the league lead in QB hurries two seasons ago, but for whatever reason, Belichick couldn’t coach him up to build on that success.
It’s been a rough five years of drafting for the Patriots, which Robert Kraft notably referenced last offseason. Mac Jones is the only player selected within the last half-decade to qualify for the Pro Bowl, though Joe Thuney was named second-team All-Pro in 2019.
The 2019 NFL Draft was a complete bust for the Patriots. Their first three picks were N’Keal Harry (No. 32), cornerback Jojuan Williams (No. 45) and Winovich (No. 77). That followed their woeful 2018 draft. Isaiah Wynn and Ja’Whaun Bentley are the only players from that class who are still with the team. (Unless Wynn signs an extension, the Patriots will probably have 12 straight first- and second-round picks not see their second contract in Foxborough.)
Deatrich Wise is the only player from 2017, and there isn’t a single player from 2016 who remains in New England.
Belichick’s draft failures are the biggest reasons the Patriots are stuck in salary cap purgatory, with only $6.2 million to spend on the second day of free agency. They were forced to spend a record-setting $175 million in guarantees last spring, only to reap modest rewards.
The Patriots’ roster lacks youth and athleticism.
There are some signs Belichick is turning his drafting fortunes around. Kyle Dugger, who was taken in the second round of the 2020 draft, is developing into an every down safety. Jones, Christian Barmore and Rhamondre Stevenson headline a promising 2021 class.
But there is a lot of groundwork to make up. The NFL Draft is the most important team building event on the calendar. And the Patriots have continually whiffed.
Winovich’s downward trajectory represents their downward spiral.