The New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns have consummated a trade, with the Patriots acquiring linebacker Mack Wilson from the Browns and defensive end Chase Winovich going to Cleveland, per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero.
Winovich had 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons but then didn't record a single sack in 13 games in 2021. As noted by Zack Cox of NESN, the defensive end “never really fit in the Patriots' defense,” so it's not a big surprise he's getting shipped out after an unproductive campaign.
In Wilson, New England is getting a linebacker who started 27 games over the past three seasons for Cleveland. The 24-year-old burst on the scene as a rookie after being selected by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, racking up 82 total tackles in 16 games (14 starts). However, Wilson's production dipped over the past two seasons, leading to a fresh start elsewhere.
Both the Patriots and Browns are hoping these fresh starts will be good for these respective players. While they have shown the ability to be effective in the NFL in the past, it just didn't happen for them in 2021.
New England is trying to improve its roster around Mac Jones in order to take the next step, while Cleveland is trying to figure out a way to bounce back after a disappointing 2021 campaign. Could Deshaun Watson be the next Browns trade? Stay tuned.
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