The Patriots have agreed to send outside linebacker Chase Winovich (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). In exchange, the Browns will send linebacker Mack Wilson to the Patriots. The trade will be processed tomorrow at 4pm ET/3pm CT, when the new league year officially begins.
“I am so grateful for my experience in New England,” Winovich tweeted. “The love, spirit, and support have been absolutely unreal. This entire region will always hold the most special of places in my heart. The time is now for the next chapter of my journey. ”
Winovich, 27 in April, notched 5.5 sacks in each of his first two pro seasons. Last year, he saw a little less action as he appeared in 13 games with zero starts and notched just eleven tackles in total. For his career, Winovich has 45 regular season appearances (nine starts) with 85 tackles, eleven sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
It’s a similar story for Wilson, who has slipped down the Browns’ depth chart in each pro season. Last year, he saw a near even split between special teams and defense, notching 42 tackles across his 14 games. Across the last three years, he’s got 163 tackles, one sack, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one interception to his credit.
I like this for both teams but as a Browns fan, I like adding Winovich. He seems like a solid bounce back candidate and could be a rotational edge rusher at worst.
Wilson is probably best as a depth linebacker and special teamer but I think he can do well in that role.
Wish more teams would do this kind of trade. Every team finds they have a little excess good at one position (and a weak spot at another) but injury concerns? usually cause them to do nothing. The Broncos should have made some deals like this with their linebacker glut after the last Super Bowl – as they lost Shaq Barrett to the Bucs and Danny Trevathan to the Bears and got nothing in return. A good lineman or safety might have won them a game or two…
The Vikings have some young DE’s and LB’s who might not be an ideal fit for the new 2-4 / 3-4 defense they’ll be running, so I wouldn’t mind seeing one or two of them traded for a young O lineman or, even better, a CB in need of a change of venue.
What did Chase do to get into Bill’s doghouse? He’s a well above average player when he plays. I know nothing about Wilson.