ProFootballWeekly.com – Pick-by-pick analysis: Round One
21 New England Patriots (from Cincinnati): DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse The Patriots sorely needed to add some pressure players, and Bill Belichick shrewdly dealt up to land a raw condor with rare length and explosive body power. Jones is very tough, humble and hardworking and once he develops his core strength and learns how to harness his raw power, he could emerge as a special talent at any position along the defensive line.
25 (25) New England Patriots (from Denver): LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
After aggressively dealing up to land Chandler Jones, Belichick jumped up two spots again to leapfrog the Texans and find another versatile, mismatch piece with wrecking-ball power. The two-time team captain can pair with Jerod Mayo to fortify the inside of the Patriots’ defense. Having proven capable of rushing off the edge, Hightower can give the Patriots the ability to disguise their front and catch offenses off guard.
