NFL Draft results 2021: Patriots bolster their defensive front seven on Day 2

The New England Patriots will likely not make a bigger splash on NFL Draft weekend than they already did on Thursday night by picking quarterback Mac Jones 15th overall. Just because they have addressed the biggest need on their roster, though, they are not done trying to find value and bolstering the overall talent of the team.

On Day 2 of the draft, this lead to front seven defenders being added in the second and third rounds, respectively. Let’s take a closer look at how the second day of the draft unfolded from New England’s perspective and what the two players selected will bring to the table.

Patriots trade up, draft DT Christian Barmore: 2-38

Trade: Patriots gets 2-38, Cincinnati gets 2-46, 4-122 and 4-139

The Patriots were originally not scheduled to be on the clock until the 46th overall pick midway through the second round, but when they saw the best defensive tackle in the class continue his slide down the board they pounced: New England sent three total draft picks to the Cincinnati Bengals to move up eight spots in the draft.

With the 38th selection, they eventually picked up Alabama interior defensive lineman Christian Barmore. A versatile player who brings impressive explosiveness and power to the table, Barmore projects to serve a rotational role for New England as a rookie before further down the line filling in wherever he is needed: Barmore can play anywhere between the 5- and 0-techniques and is therefore a high-value addition — especially in Round 2.

Patriots draft DE Ronnie Perkins: 3-96

Despite almost 60 selections between their first and second selection on Friday, the New England Patriots did not fill the gap. Instead, they stayed put at No. 96 — the pick awarded as a compensation for losing quarterback Tom Brady in free agency last year — to add another defender to their front seven.

The player in question was Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins, a high-upside pass rusher who just like Barmore was originally expected not to last this long on the board. New England was therefore able to get some solid value for its investment by picking a player who could play a versatile role in the team’s hybrid scheme and like his new teammate align in numerous spots depending on what the play call and situation necessitate.

With Barmore and Perkins now added to the mix, the Patriots’ draft class has grown to three players in three rounds of action:

• QB Mac Jones, Alabama (1-15)
• DT Christian Barmore, Alabama (2-38)
• DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma (3-96)

Heading into the third and final day of the draft, the Patriots own five selections: they have one pick each in the fourth (4-120) and fifth (5-177) rounds, hold two in the sixth (6-188, 6-197) and are currently scheduled to end the event with a final pick in the seventh (7-242).