The New England Patriots’ busy first day of legal tampering continues. After already making four outside additions — tight end Jonnu Smith, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, linebacker Matt Judon, defensive back Jalen Mills — and seeing guard Joe Thuney depart for Kansas City, the Patriots have now retained one of their own free agents: as first reported by ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. will return to New England.
Wise Jr. joined the Patriots via the fourth round of the NFL’s 2017 draft. One of a league-low four players selected by New England that year, he was the only member of the group to make the team’s 53-man roster his rookie season — a sign of things to come: Wise Jr.