On paper, the Patriots defense looks like it belongs to a team that finished 6-10 in the AFC South.
There are Jabaal Sheard and Barkevious Mingo, a pair of guys the Browns had no use for. There are unwanted castoffs from the Bears (Shea McClellin), Eagles (Eric Rowe), Lions (Kyle Van Noy) and Bills (Alan Branch). Veteran pass-rushers Rob Ninkovich and Chris Long terrorized quarterbacks around the league…back in 2012.
Only three first-round picks are starting for the Patriots defense: safety Devin McCourty, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and tackle Malcom Brown.