How would you rate the Jones and Hightower picks?

I love the Jones pick.

Hightower...not sold. I was under the impression he was a thumper in the middle. Basically a better version of Brandon Spikes. Not like I did extensive scouting on him or anything, but I watched him a couple times and I heard other people say he would be going to the Steelers to play ILB or the Ravens.

So not quite sure how that works out. Is he a 3-4 OLB?

DaBruinz said:

Jones did not have knee surgery. He had an unspecified knee injury and missed 5 games. To me, that says sprained MCL.. He played the rest of the season with no lingering issues and performed well at the Combine and his Pro-Day.

The thing that both of these players have is LEADERSHIP. Jones is noted for spending time helping teammates and coaching them up on the scheme and Hightower took over leadership from Rolando McClain and likes to spend time in the film room..

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nailed it..should be a sticky

I give them an A just because they did something we've all been harping for them to do for the past couple of years: use both of our 1st round picks and go get front 7 defensive guys.

BradyToHernandez said:

I love the Jones pick.

Hightower...not sold. I was under the impression he was a thumper in the middle. Basically a better version of Brandon Spikes. Not like I did extensive scouting on him or anything, but I watched him a couple times and I heard other people say he would be going to the Steelers to play ILB or the Ravens.

So not quite sure how that works out. Is he a 3-4 OLB?

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Hightower played ILB in Alabama's 3-4, although I have heard that he could play outside. Basically the positional flexibility he offers as a potential 3 down linebacker was doubtless one of the qualities that endeared him to Belichick.

BradyToHernandez said:

I love the Jones pick.

Hightower...not sold. I was under the impression he was a thumper in the middle. Basically a better version of Brandon Spikes. Not like I did extensive scouting on him or anything, but I watched him a couple times and I heard other people say he would be going to the Steelers to play ILB or the Ravens.

So not quite sure how that works out. Is he a 3-4 OLB?

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My guess is that he's competition for Ninkovich at SLB in the 3-4 and an LB in the nickel. He'll play everywhere though.

Athletically, there's no comparison to Spikes. Hightower ran a 4.68. Spikes ran a 5.05. And Hightower did it at 16 pounds heavier.

Hightower is a nice upgrade to the LB position......

Ninko,Mayo,Spikes,Hightower, Jones gives flexibility with Fletcher as an alt.

Anderson gone and Carter still a ????

2 players that should show results immediately...

I gave them a B only because I don't know that much about Jones. But Hightower...grand slam! He was the leader of the best D in college football. Probably the best college D in many years. Plus he's a Saban guy!

Let's see Tebow try to run the wildcat against Hightower, Spikes and Mayo. Bwahaha....splat. The Jets ain't gonna be ground and pound against us with anyone.

The last time I was this jacked about a 1st rounder it was Wilfork.

I've seen a few posts on here questioning hightower because they feel we already have mayo/spikes, but let's remember players do occasionally get injured in the nfl.
I'm not saying they drafted a guy to be injury filler, but depth at a position isn't as pointless as some people make it out to be.

anyway, he probably just puts nink on the bench.

BlueThunder said:

Hightower is a nice upgrade to the LB position......

Ninko,Mayo,Spikes,Hightower, Jones gives flexibility with Fletcher as an alt.

Anderson gone and Carter still a ????

2 players that should show results immediately...

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I thought Carter was a lock to return, and he still could, but i see this as a clear sign they are going 3-4 and staying in it with nickel and dime variations, no more flipping back and forth between 3-4 and 4-3, although they are likely going back to the 3-4 with the joker role that players like McGinest and Vrabel played that gave them both looks out of the same sets. i think this is a really good move and simplifies the defense in some ways so that they can focus on those schemes instead of trying to do too much with players who can't do it without subbing out, e.g..Anderson.

I'm excited about this defense, and it has been a while since i could say that, and that's before they add David in the 2nd. The DL is good and really stable while the LB corps has the potential they had in their best seasons. I really think they got themselves 2 great prospects in Jones and Hightower. I see Hightower as a player who is really football savvy with freak physical skills and he is going to step right in and contribute. Jones strikes me as McGinest style project with big upside, and I heard and interview with him that convinced me he is the kind of "kid" who understands just how hard he has to work and will do so willingly. I love the fact that he trains with his brother and see him as a prospect who will tear it up once he adjusts to the NFL, could be late this season but more likely years 2-5 and on.

I love that Belichick finally used his draft capital to go get players he targeted, and the fact they are both LB's who get after the passer makes it that much better, anyone still think they screwed up passing on Mark Ingram for this draft? I liken this to the Gronk and Hernandez picks, great things are in the future for both players. I'm a happy camper.

A!!!

We should have done this 4 years ago. Nice work BB.

Jones just turned 22...he's listed at 266, but he's 270+ right now.

when I was 22 I was 185 pounds...by the time I turned 28 I weighed in at a rock hard 225...I made the jump in weight without the benefit of an NFL modern day workout and diet regimen.

I think all you "experts" who are already damning this kid as "too light!!" and all the rest of your negative Nicky bullcrap should step back from your Kiper perches and try a little bit of extrapolation as far as this kid's future goes. He's BIGGER than Willie McG was in his prime (255/265), has a tremendous reach and great character. He is TWENTY TWO YEARS OLD yet some of you blowhards want him to be an All Pro right now before he even plays a snap and you are blitheringly negative about his weight, for crissakes...as if he's going to weigh the same the next five years.

I don't get some of you clowns...it seems you just HAVE to rip and tear away at anything the Patriots do if it doesn't fit into your narrow little anal retentive "mastermind window" of player paradigms..newsflash...there are no perfect draft picks...what you look for are FOOTBALL players...and Jones IS just that...a TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD football player with his entire career in FRONT of him.

How priceless would it be if Quinton Coples busts for the Jets and Chandler Jones lives up to Mayock's billing as best defensive player in the draft (when he was available to the Jets). And then on top of that we get Hightower who Theganggreen absolutely loved.

Elijah said:

I don't really understand how Hightower fits. Jones obviously plays 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, and Hightower would play 4-3 LB or 3-4 ILB. He would either be displacing Spikes or Ninkovich, and I feel like that would be putting talent on the bench.

But I still give them an A because there's not much else they could have done with the pick. I'm not as down on our DTs as most people are. Let's grab an interior OL (Silatolu?) and CB (Jenkins?) tomorrow night and anything else is icing on the cake.

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Hightower can play every linebacker position, including 3-4 OLB, and he can play 4-3 DE. I see nothing to dislike about drafting this guy.

The best thing I like about these guys is that they seem like true leaders and students of the game. These two just want to play and make an impact, no matter where they line up.

I know nothing about the draft or college football (like many NFL fans that pretend otherwise), but if I'm to take from this that we drafted two studs for the front 7 then I'm obviously very happy.

My only reservation is that Hightower is just going to take reps from Spikes. Can he be used differently in this defense? I hear conflicting stuff everywhere, but I guess that's the draft.

I give the draft an A just for the Dont'a Hightower pick alone. Gotta give credit to Bill Belichick to have the balls to trade up ahead of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft to pick the inside linebacker BEAST from Alabama. Championship pedigree was just added to the roster.

Roll Tide Baby!

This is the first time I think ever that it's been nearly unanimous throughout the media and fans that the Pats won day 1. Makes me excited and kinda nervous at the same time.

TyronePoole said:

This is the first time I think ever that it's been nearly unanimous throughout the media and fans that the Pats won day 1. Makes me excited and kinda nervous at the same time.

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It's probably because an already stacked, perennial contender dramatically improved their team in positions of need with highly rated prospects.

I'm very happy with these two picks, but the DB's still need work.

Joker said:

Jones just turned 22...he's listed at 266, but he's 270+ right now.

when I was 22 I was 185 pounds...by the time I turned 28 I weighed in at a rock hard 225...I made the jump in weight without the benefit of an NFL modern day workout and diet regimen.

I think all you "experts" who are already damning this kid as "too light!!" and all the rest of your negative Nicky bullcrap should step back from your Kiper perches and try a little bit of extrapolation as far as this kid's future goes. He's BIGGER than Willie McG was in his prime (255/265), has a tremendous reach and great character. He is TWENTY TWO YEARS OLD yet some of you blowhards want him to be an All Pro right now before he even plays a snap and you are blitheringly negative about his weight, for crissakes...as if he's going to weigh the same the next five years.

I don't get some of you clowns...it seems you just HAVE to rip and tear away at anything the Patriots do if it doesn't fit into your narrow little anal retentive "mastermind window" of player paradigms..newsflash...there are no perfect draft picks...what you look for are FOOTBALL players...and Jones IS just that...a TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD football player with his entire career in FRONT of him.

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I don't get the weight issue either, since when is 266 lbs Light for an OLB. I have only heard of him recently but the way i'm looking at it is that BB Very Rarely misses on a 1st round draft pick, so there must be something there.

Chandler Jones looks like a freak with room to grow...let's hope Mayock's prediction about him comes true.


I've got no doubts about Hightower...that dude is just a player.


I would've never expected a 1st day like this.


Janoris Jenkins now please.