Bill Belichick was unusually aggressive in the first round of Thursday's draft.
View full sizeLeft, Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones celebrates after sacking West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Jones was selected as the 21st pick overall by the New England Patriots in the first round of the NFL football draft on Thursday; right, Alabama's Dont'a Hightower poses for photographs at Radio City Music Hall in New York after being selected 25th overall by the Patriots.FOXBOROUGH – Bill Belichick had no idea how his night was going to play out.
It wasn’t scripted. He didn’t intend to trade up twice in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft to make picks to improve his pass rush, it just happened to work out that way.
The New England Patriots coach sat back and watched things develop and when it looked like a few of his higher-rated players were close to coming off the board, he decided it was time to make a move.
Belichick and director of player personnel Nick Caserio first negotiated a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals to move up to the No. 21 and selected Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones. Once that one was in the books, things materialized and they quickly made a deal with the Denver Broncos to slide up and nab Dont’a Hightower, a linebacker out of Alabama, with the 25th pick.
“We were focused on our first pick. After we made it we looked at what was on the board, what other teams were doing and made some calls, fielded some calls,” Belichick said. “That’s how it worked out.”
In return, New England sent the No. 27 pick and a third-round selection to the Bengals and the No. 31 pick and a fourth-rounder to the Broncos. It was the first time since 2003 that the team has moved up in the first round when it selected defensive lineman Ty Warren.
New England finished 31st in total defense (6,585 yards allowed) and 14th in sacks (40) last season.
Jones, the brother of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones” and Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Art Jones, projects as a defensive end in both the 3-4 or 4-3 defensive alignments and should be given the opportunity to plug the hole created at right defensive end by the departures of Mark Anderson (signed with Buffalo) and Andre Carter (recovering from quad surgery).
Jones, who met with Belichick at the scouting combine, has no preference on what his role will be with the Patriots.
“I’m just excited to be on this defense,” Jones said. “I have no idea where I’m going to play. I’m going to play wherever coach tells me to play, and I’m just ready to learn this playbook.”
The 6-foot-5, 266-pound Jones wasn’t initially pegged a first-round talent after recording 4.5 and 38 tackles sacks over seven games as a senior, and is still considered to be a bit raw.
But after solid series of workouts, he steadily changed opinions and some talent evaluators believe that he has the talent to become an elite playmaker given time to develop.
Hightower’s fit is bit murkier. He spent the majority of his time at Alabama as a middle linebacker, but also possesses the ability to be solid pass rusher off the edge in passing situations.
His skillset could put him in competition with Rob Ninkovich at strong-side linebacker.
Hightower (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) recorded 85 tackles (46 for a loss) and four sacks as a junior playing Nick Saban’s complex defense at Alabama, something that should give him a leg up as a rookie coming into New England.
“Hightower’s been in a great program for a great coach, won a couple National Championships and has been a signal-caller and leader of that defense,” Belichick said. “I think both players have some versatility. … I’m excited to work with them and glad to have them on our team.”