New England Patriots 2019 training camp primer: Defensive linemen
Here’s what we don’t know…
Outside of the presumptive starters listed earlier along the defensive line, there’s not a whole lot to initially like about the Patriots’ depth at both defensive end and defensive tackle.
Derek Rivers was a third-round draft pick back in 2017, and yet he’s played just six games across the past two seasons. Some of that lack of action came from injuries, but a good portion of it last year also came from Rivers being a healthy scratch in favor of other players seeing field time. With Flowers out of the picture, it’s up to Rivers to have the training camp of his life… otherwise the defensive end rotation could be a four-man show between Bennett, Wise, Winovich, and Simon.
The other defensive ends on the current depth chart are all long shots to make the final roster: Keionta Davis, Ufomba Kamalu, Trent Harris, Nick Thurman, and Shilique Calhoun.
Danny Shelton, the former Cleveland Browns first-round pick out of Washington, was a free agent this past spring but ultimately ended up re-signing with New England. He wasn’t too spectacular during his debut season in a Patriots uniform last year, but maybe he can build on what was a solid showing in the Super Bowl against the Rams. If not, he could be one of the more high-profile camp casualties this summer.
David Parry is another name to keep an eye on at defensive tackle during training camp. He didn’t make much of an impact last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but he’s reportedly a smart football player that could just need a little coaching up from a master motivator like Belichick.
Next. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski working out together(!). dark
Arguably the most interesting unknown to monitor amongst Patriots defensive players this camp is tackle Byron Cowart, who was taken by New England in the fifth round of April’s draft. Cowart was once considered the No. 1 college recruit in America before tanking as an Auburn Tiger. He reinvented himself as a Maryland Terrapin just in the nick of time, and his career renaissance earned him a ticket to One Patriot Place.
Cowart, along with the other players listed above, represents some of the more open-ended storylines heading into training camp on the defensive side of the ball for New England.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ QUARTERBACKS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ RUNNING BACKS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ WIDE RECEIVERS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ TIGHT ENDS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ OFFENSIVE LINEMEN HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ LINEBACKERS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ CORNERBACKS HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ SAFETIES HERE.
READ ABOUT THE PATRIOTS’ SPECIALISTS HERE.