In the wake of Trey Flowers’ departure, what if one of the New England Patriots’ defensive ends made a Flowers-like rise up the depth chart? Perhaps Derek Rivers could finally enjoy a breakout year.

Flowers missed his rookie season, and found a spot on the defensive line in his second season. His ability to fly up the depth chart was fairly stunning after Flowers was a fourth-round pick out of Arkansas. The Patriots made a move to replace Flowers by trading for defensive end Michael Bennett, who is on a two-year deal with zero dollars guaranteed. But they also cut Adrian Clayborn, who was likely to start on the other side of Bennett. New England could look to the draft to help create platoon at defensive end. But perhaps they’re also hoping to see an emergence of Rivers, who could work into a starting role across from Bennett. A 2017 third-round pick out of Youngstown State, Rivers seemed like a candidate to become a pass rushing specialist, but tore his ACL during his rookie season. In 2018, he played just eight percent of the team’s snaps while becoming a regular on the inactive list.

Frankly, he’s a bit of a long shot. But there’s no sure-thing around him at the defensive end position.

To this point in Deatrich Wise’s career, he has been a pass-rushing specialist, and even got benched to the inactive list during the end of the season. Keionta Davis seemed like a breakout star-in-the-making in 2018 when he received the starting nod early in the year. But he disappointed and disappeared after his early season contributions. And finally, the Patriots have John Simon and Ufomba Kamalu, who are hybrid players with versatility to play linebacker and defensive end. Simon strays toward more linebacker work, while Kamalu plays more at defensive end.

With those players as surrounding cast for Bennett, Rivers is as likely as any to emerge a contributor in 2019. There are potential contributors in free agency. New England could swing a trade to land a starter. And of course, with six picks in the top 101 selections, they could draft a potential starter at defensive end.

But Rivers is as likely as anyone to have an increased role in 2019, which could give his career new life.