For the second time in the 2012 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots moved up to snag a defensive prospect. This time the Patriots traded their No. 31-overall pick and a fourth-rounder to the Denver Broncos, who gave them the 25th selection overall to snag Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Donta Hightower. Earlier, the Patriots moved-up to select yracuse Orange defensive end Chandler Jones at No. 21 overall.
New England, which moved up just for just the fourth time in the Bill Belichick era, now has just two second-round picks (No. 48 and 68 overall) remaining in this year's draft.
Hightower (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) was a part of the No. 1 defense in all of college football last season, which has already seen two other player be selected in the first round. Hightower was both a Lombardi and Butkus Award finalist in his junior season.
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