The New England Patriots sure do love bringing in pet projects. That’s most definitely the case when it comes to the team’s most-recent trade.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New England has acquired former Cleveland Browns’ top-10 pick Barkevious Mingo.
Browns are trading the sixth overall pick from the 2013 draft, LB Barkevious Mingo, to the New England Patriots, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2016
Mingo, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, has long been on the trade block. The pass rusher simply didn’t pan out in that capacity in three seasons with Cleveland, racking up a total of seven sacks during that span.
Though, the 25-year-old former LSU standout still boasts significant upside. He’ll be heading to a scheme that fits his skill-set a great deal. New England runs a hybrid defensive front, meaning that Mingo will play both with his hands down at the line and from a stand-up outside linebacker position.
The Patriots were in need of more pass-rush help after trading Pro Bowler Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals during the spring. Whether Mingo acts as that guy remains to be seen.