NFL Draft: Patriots Look to Round 2 after Busy Day (Poll)

The New England Patriots took a big step in addressing their pass rush in the first round of the draft Thursday night.

Bucking his usual modus operandi, Bill Belichick moved up twice in the round, grabbing Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones at pick 21 and Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower at 25.

Jones is a bit undersized as a lineman, and may project as an outside linebacker/defensive end in the Patriots' system. Hightower has drawn comparisons to current Pats linebacker Brandon Spikes, and word is he'll take a lot of work from Rob Ninkovich.

With two picks remaining in the second round (and in the rest of the draft, for that matter), the Patriots may choose to address their remaining sore spot, the secondary.

The elite corners and safeties had been taken by the time the Patriots picked in the first, but the team may decide to expend some picks on second-round talent.

Of course, it's never easy to predict what Belichick will do. It's possible he'll barter a second for spots later in the draft, as it's hard to imagine the Patriots without a single day-three pick.

So, what do you think of the Pats' draft thus far?