Patriots Grab Jones, Hightower In First Round

The New England Patriots moved up twice in the first round to get the guys they wanted. Syracuse DE Chandler Jones and Alabama LB Dont'a Hightower were the targets.

The New England Patriots selected defensive end Chandler Jones with the 21st pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  The team traded up from 27 to 21 to secure the Syracuse product.

New England traded their first of two First Round picks (27th overall)  to the Cincinnati Bengals along with their Third Round pick (93rd overall) for the Bengals’ first round pick at 21.   New England acquired the 27th pick from an earlier trade in 2011 from the New Orleans Saints.

Jones is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.

He was named First Team All Big East his senior year at Syracuse.  

The Patriots also traded up to get their second pick in the first round, Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower. New England selected the SEC defender with the 25th overall pick acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos.

New England sent their own First Round pick (31st overall) and their Fourth Round pick (126th overall) to Denver for the Broncos’ 25th overall pick.

Hightower is 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds.  

Hightower earned multiple SEC honors at Alabama.