New England's busy week of personnel moves continued on Thursday as the team reached a deal with the Browns to trade for Cleveland outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo.
ESPN broke the news of the trade, the Patriots second deal in as many days after sending center Bryan Stork to the Redskins on Wednesday.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/768869868200275968
The 6-4, 241-pound Mingo entered the NFL as a high-profile prospect out of LSU, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 draft. But he's clearly failed to live up to his hype and potential.
After notching five sacks as a rookie – starting 11 of the 15 games he played that fall – Mingo has tallied just two sacks in 31 games played over the last two years. He did not start a single game among the 16 he played in last fall. He had been apparently used as a pass rusher, dropping into coverage and even as an inside linebacker this summer in Cleveland.
The trade adds depth to the edge of the Patriots defensive front that's been hit with injuries in recent weeks. Rob Ninkovich (triceps), Jabaal Sheard (knee) and Shea McClellin have all missed practice time of late.
Mingo was drafted by Cleveland when Michael Lombardi was the team's general manager. Lombardi spent the last couple seasons working in the Patriots front office, though he left that position this offseason to return to a role in the media.
With the deal for Mingo, New England has now traded for the No. 6 and No. 7 overall picks in the 2013 NFL Draft, the latter being offseason addition Jonathan Cooper, acquired in the Chandler Jones trade with the Cardinals.
The addition of Mingo gives the Patriots 82 players on the roster at this point. New England will need to cut down to 75 players by Aug. 30.
