With some down time before training camp, we're inspecting the Patriots roster position by position. Today, an examination of the defensive line.
LOCKS
Michael Bennett, Deatrich Wise, John Simon, Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Keionta Davis, Trent Harris, Mike Pennel Jr., Danny Shelton, Chase Winovich (rookie), Byron Cowart (rookie)
BUBBLE
Derek Rivers, David Parry
LONG SHOTS
Ufomba Kamalu, Nick Thurman
BREAKDOWN
The 2019 Patriots defensive line is going to look a lot different this year. However, different isn't always a bad thing. At the end of the 2018 season, the Patriots lost Trey Flowers, Malcom Brown, and Adrian Clayborn to free agency. Since then, the Patriots went out and got Michael Bennett and re-signed Danny Shelton.
In addition, the Patriots drafted Chase Winovich in the third round. Bennett, along with Wise, Davis, Winovich, and Simon will be locks at defensive end. This is a training camp to keep an eye on Derek Rivers. We haven't seen much out of the Patriots' 2017 third-round draft pick. He missed his rookie season with a torn ACL and was a healthy scratch for much of 2018. It will be interesting to watch the third year player fight for a spot at defensive end.
