Inside the New England Patriots Draft Room: Who Will Join the Super Bowl Champions

Inside Linebackers

Dont’a Hightower’s return means all is well in New England. The team knew signing Hightower, Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins was going to be impossible, but losing all three would have been a hard pill to swallow. In the end, number 54 will still be patrolling the middle of the defense and making big plays when the spotlight is brightest.

The man who brought down Marshawn Lynch at the one-yard line in Super Bowl XLIX one play before the Butler interception, and the one who created a much-needed turnover with a strip sack of Matt Ryan two years later, isn’t the only inside linebacker coming back next season. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Shea McClellin all played inside at some point last year and all three will return.

Highly-valued skills:

weight, arm length, vertical (122 graded)

1. Ben Gedeon (Michigan) – 50%

2. Richie Brown (Mississippi State) – 42.8%

2. Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt) – 42.8%

2. Jarrad Davis (Florida) – 42.8%

2. Harvey Langi (BYU) – 42.8%

6. Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State) – 28.5%

7. Blair Brown (Ohio) – 14.2%

8. Dalton Santos (Louisiana Tech) – 7.1%

Fell below the minimum threshold in one category, but still finished with a positive score:

1. Fletcher Collins (Montana State) – 28.5%

1. Jordan Evans (Oklahoma) – 28.5%

1. Cody Heiman (Washburn) – 28.5%

1. Elcee Refuge (Kent State) – 28.5%

1. Eric Wilson (Cincinnati) – 28.5%

6. Charmeachealle Moore (Kansas State) – 14.2%

6. Eric Nzeocha (Wyoming) – 14.2%

6. Zach Ryan (Ball State) – 14.2%

6. Jameer Thurman (Indiana State) – 14.2%

Based on the players currently on the roster, there’s really no need for the Patriots to use a draft pick on an inside linebacker. The team has a good combination of youth and experience at a relatively cheap price, so there shouldn’t be any cap causalities among the current group. If any of these players are selected, it will be with special teams in mind.