The Patriots saw a lot of good defensive talent start coming off the board, and apparently they decided it was time to make their move.
 The Patriots selected Defensive End Chandler Jones out of Syracuse with their first selection Thursday night. |
They traded up to the #21 overall spot after reportedly striking a deal with Cincinnati to swap their 27th & 93rd with the Bengals to grab Syracuse Defensive End Chandler Jones.
Jones is an interesting prospect, especially considering what the scouting reports had to say about him. Tom Brady was mic'd up during the Super Bowl, and the subsequent feature on NFL Network caught him talking about the fact that trying to throw over the long arms of New York's defensive line was a big problem. That's something the 6'5" defensive standout out of Syracuse would give them. Most scouting reports noted his arm length and his terrific ability to shed blockers, and he has a reputation for being extremely disruptive.
Needless to say he seems to be someone who could be a great fit and he appears to be just the guy to start changing the face of this defense.
The last time the Patriots traded up, it was 2003 and they drafted Ty Warren, who ended up being a great fit alongside Vince Wilfork until injuries forced the Patriots to move on from him. Clearly Bill Belichick liked what he saw in Jones, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in here in New England.
We'll have more on Jones in a bit.
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