Breer On Toucher & Rich: Pats 'Investigated Going Up Even Higher'
The New England Patriots surprised many at this year's draft so far by trading up not once, but twice in the first round.
They first traded up for the 21st overall pick, drafting defensive end Chandler Jones of Syracuse. Then the Pats traded for the 25th pick, drafting linebacker Dont'a Hightower from Alabama.
Read: Patriots Trade Up For 21st Pick, Draft DE Chandler Jones
The NFL Network's Bert Breer joined Toucher & Rich to discuss the players the Patriots drafted, could they have made a move to move up higher, and will these guys have an immediate impact?
New England sent the 27th overall pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 21st overall pick which they used to draft Chandler Jones. Breer told T&R that the Pats were looking into moving up even higher.
"My understanding is they actually investigated going up even higher going up as high as number nine. I know they had talks with several teams much further up the board. They were inquiring about Mark Barron the safety from Alabama, at least that's what some of the other teams' understandings were."
Read: Pats Trade Up For 25th Pick, Draft Alabama's Dont'a Hightower
What does Breer think of the Jones pick?
"He's a little bit of a projection and it might take him some time to develop, but obviously he's got the athletic tools and everything else. It's pretty clear that they felt like they needed to get difference makers on defense."
The Pats acquired the 25th pick from the Denver Broncos for the 31st overall pick to go out and get Dont'a Hightower. The Alabama linebacker suffered an ACL injury back in 2009, didn't have a great year in 2010, but had a fantastic year in 2011. How does Breer feel about this pick by the Patriots?
"I don't know if that was so much a need pick for the Patriots because anybody I've talked to said that Hightower is an inside linebacker, he is not an outside linebacker in Belichick's offense."
Plus find out what Breer thinks they might do in the second round.
