Cleveland received Chase Winovich for Mack Wilson in a…
Cleveland received Chase Winovich for Mack Wilson in a linebacker-for-edge swap that became official on March 16, 2022. Winovich gave the Browns eight games, 18 tackles and one sack before leaving after the season. Wilson became a useful two-year Patriots contributor, playing all 34 regular-season games and producing five sacks. New England extracted the longer and more productive return, giving the Patriots the clear hindsight win.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Chase Winovich
New England Patriots Received
- player Mack Wilson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The completed transaction belongs on March 16, 2022, when the new league year opened and both the NFL transaction log and Patriots transaction history record the swap. Cleveland acquired defensive end Chase Winovich, while New England acquired linebacker Mack Wilson. Reports surfaced a day earlier, but the official transaction date is March 16.
Cleveland Browns Return
Winovich offered Cleveland a rotational pass-rush option after three seasons in New England. His Browns tenure never became a major role. He appeared in eight games in 2022, recorded 18 combined tackles and one sack, then moved on after the season. That was some usable depth, but it was only a partial season of production and did not create lasting value for Cleveland.
New England Patriots Return
Wilson delivered the stronger return. He played all 17 games in both 2022 and 2023, giving New England 34 regular-season appearances across two years. He contributed 1.5 sacks in 2022 and 3.5 more in 2023, while also handling special-teams and rotational linebacker work. The role was not star-level, yet it was steady, available and productive enough to matter over two full seasons.
Value in Hindsight
This was a change-of-scenery trade involving two players whose roles had declined with their original clubs. The best way to grade it is by what each receiving team actually got afterward. Cleveland received one shortened season of rotation work. New England received two complete seasons, more defensive production and greater lineup flexibility.
Final Verdict
New England wins. The Patriots earn a B for turning Winovich into two useful seasons from Wilson. Cleveland earns a C- because Winovich's eight-game stay produced only limited value before the Browns moved on.