Deatrich Wise heading to NFC contender after 8 seasons with Patriots
The Washington Commanders are apparently looking for some of that Patriots Super Bowl aura.
Mere hours after they agreed to a deal with former Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, they are pulling the ol’ double-dip with ex-Pats. According to Adam Schefter, the Commanders have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. That brings to an end an eight-season run for Wise in a Patriots uniform.
Originally drafted to the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of Arkansas, Wise played 40 straight games to start his career, and played in 62 of a possible 64 contests over his first four seasons. He established himself as a locker room leader and supremely hard worker who set the kind of example beloved by his coaches, particularly Bill Belichick.
Wise’s best season in a Patriots uniform came in 2022, when he logged 7.5 sacks, 11 QB hits, and seven tackles for loss as a reliable rotational pass-rusher. He also played in six playoff games for the Patriots, including a win in Super Bowl LIII over the Rams, in which he made five total tackles and one QB hit.
It was also in 2022 that the Patriots honored Wise with the Ron Burton Community Service award, recognizing his years of various charitable work around New England. He also established the Wise Up Foundation, which aims to “Provide educational resources, Unite communities, Support students and student-athletes, and Honor America’s Veterans” (PUSH).
With the addition of Wise, the Commanders are adding a defender with a wealth of valuable experience and outstanding character, both on and off the field. There’s no doubt that he and Jones will become favorites of their teammates and the community in D.C.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
