2020 NFL Draft: Dark horse teams to address each position early

Linebacker: New England Patriots

This offseason, the headlines have been all about Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. With Brady leaving windy Foxborough for sunny Tampa Bay, all of the speculation regarding New England is now focused on the quarterback position and the weapons on offense. Yet, there’s a much bigger need that is going unnoticed.

The Patriots defense, which ranked second against the pass, sixth against the run, and first in points allowed in 2019, lost several impact players in free agency. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who accumulated 41 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2019, signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins; Jamie Collins, who accumulated 58 tackles, seven sacks, and three interceptions last season, left Foxborough to play for his former defensive coordinator in Detroit.

All of a sudden, Dont’a Hightower remains the only linebacker on the Patriots roster to have accumulated more than 30 tackles in 2019. While Brandon Copeland and Ja’Whaun Bentley are solid players, the Patriots will need a compliment to Hightower in the middle of the field to repeat last year’s defensive dominance.

While everyone is focused on what New England does to help their offense, watch out for the Patriots to take a linebacker with one of their early selections.