The New England Patriots will look drastically different on the defensive side of the trenches this year: gone are 2018 core players such as Trey Flowers, Adrian Clayborn, Malcom Brown and possibly Danny Shelton. And while the reigning world champions invested in the group by acquiring Michael Bennett via trade and signing free agent Mike Pennel, an additional infusion of young, cheap talent certainly would be welcome.
Enter Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence. Ranking 25th and 45th, respectively, on the latest big boards by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and The Draft Network, the 21-year-old is expected to come off the board either in the late first or the early second round — right where the Patriots are situated with their 32nd overall selection.