By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) — With the likes of Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and potentially Dont’a Hightower departing the middle of the Patriots’ defense in the offseason, there was a rather wide expectation that the Patriots might look to add a young, aggressive playmaker through the draft. While the addition of Mack Wilson via trade might help, there was some buzz about the Patriots potentially eyeing Devin Lloyd, Quay Walker, Chad Muma, Nakobe Dean and others in the draft.
Instead, the Patriots avoided the position altogether, and basically bypassed drafting anyone in the front seven, aside from Northwest Missouri State defensive end Sam Roberts in the sixth round.