LB Derek Rivers
Unfortunately, Rivers has not had the best of luck when it comes to staying on the field in his first three seasons. Rivers was taken in the third round of the 2017 draft but missed all of his rookie campaign after tearing his ACL. He returned the following season and played in six games, registering two tackles and one sack. Rivers then missed all of the 2019 season after a season ending injury in week two of the preseason.
Assuming Rivers makes the final roster for the upcoming season, it is certainly do-or-die for the defensive end. Luckily for him, Belichick has highly praised Rivers in the past. “I like Derek,” Belichick said in December 2018 at a press conference, “I think he’s got a bright future.”
Regardless if his future is bright or not, will it be as as a member of the Patriots? Currently the team has 13 linebackers on the roster, but Rivers specializes more as an edge rusher on the defensive line so he will be competing with John Simon, Deatrich Wise Jr., Lawrence Guy, Byron Cowart, Nick Coe, and Nick Thurman.
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