UPDATE (3:30 p.m. ET): The New England Patriots confirmed they have traded for linebacker/defensive end Barkevious Mingo from the Cleveland Browns.
ORIGINAL STORY: The New England Patriots reportedly made their second trade in two days Thursday, when they acquired a former top-10 draft pick.
The Cleveland Browns traded linebacker/defensive end Barkevious Mingo to the Patriots, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Mingo was selected sixth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Browns. Michael Lombardi, who worked with the Patriots as an assistant to the coaching staff the past two seasons, was the Browns’ general manager at that time.
Mingo, who’s 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, has 108 tackles with seven sacks, 11 passes defensed and one interception in three seasons. He has made 16 starts and missed just two games in his NFL career.
It’s unclear whether Mingo will serve as a pass rusher or linebacker for the Patriots. They’re loaded at pass rusher with Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, Chris Long, Trey Flowers, Shea McClellin and Rufus Johnson. They have less depth at linebacker with Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jonathan Freeny, rookie Kamu Grugier-Hill, special-teamer Brandon King, rookie Elandon Roberts and Kevin Snyder. McClellin also can play linebacker, although he, Sheard and Ninkovich are banged up right now.
The Patriots traded former starting center Bryan Stork to the Washington Redskins on Wednesday.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
