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3 Patriots Backups That Will be Starters by the End of the 2020 NFL Season

By Tristan Jung

Chase Winovich stats in 2019 included 5.5 sacks, 17.0 total tackles and 10 QB hits.
Chase Winovich stats in 2019 included 5.5 sacks, 17.0 total tackles and 10 QB hits. / Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
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The New England Patriots are entering a new era, whether their fans are ready or not. Tom Brady has left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving Bill Belichick with questions to answer at the position for the first time in two decades.

Elsewhere on the roster, the Patriots need to get better if they want to bounce back from last year's dispiriting loss to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card Round. With the Patriots in a state of flux, here are three players that could rise to become full-time starters next year.

1. Chase Winovich, DE

Chase Winovich had a productive rookie year.
Chase Winovich had a productive rookie year. / Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Chase Winovich already looks like another draft steal from Michigan for the Patriots. After being taken in the third round last year, Winovich had 5.5 sacks last year despite not starting a single game. Winovich is a great situational edge rusher and should only get better in 2020. It'll be hard to keep him out of the starting lineup.

2. J.C. Jackson, CB

J.C. Jackson was a dynamic force off the bench last season.
J.C. Jackson was a dynamic force off the bench last season. / Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

The Patriots seem to be committed to undrafted free agent J.C. Jackson, who is quickly following along the Malcolm Butler path. The Patriots traded away the two cornerbacks they selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, leaving Jackson as the primary backup. He excelled once again, collecting five interceptions and competently supporting the McCourty brothers when necessary. If there is an injury to the Patriots' starting secondary, J.C. Jackson should be the first name up.

3. Brian Hoyer, QB

Brian Hoyer will likely start the season as the Patriots' backup.
Brian Hoyer will likely start the season as the Patriots' backup. / Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Barring a shocking NFL Draft move, it seems like the Patriots are committed to starting Auburn product Jarrett Stidham. Stidham had two decent years at Auburn, but he was not rated very highly in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, backup Brian Hoyer has been a backup and a starter for the last decade and is currently on his third stint as the Patriots' backup quarterback. Because Stidham has almost no NFL experience, it's hard not to see Hoyer coming in at some point during the season.

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Tristan Jung is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Tristan Jung also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username tristan1117. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.