Most of the conversation surrounding the Patriots' draft plans has been about their first-round pick and who that should, or shouldn't be. It has mainly come down to a few players, with offensive tackle and defensive end becoming the universally agreed-upon positions.
And while that makes sense, there are other parts of the team that need to be addressed early, too.
That's something that Andrew Vasquez of Steelers Wire does in his latest mock draft, having the black and yellow trade with the Patriots for a second-round pick that brings a notable linebacker to New England's defense.
Although players like Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane are set to return for the 2026 season, the linebacker room is still lacking in reliable and sufficient depth. That was made apparent when both players dealt with injuries last season, making a trade for a star player make a ton of sense in this year's draft.
It's even better when that player is Alex Highsmith, a 28-year-old budding superstar who could become a primary focus of the Patriots' defense for years to come.
The Patriots add another anchor to their defense by trading for a star linebacker in the making
The 2020 third-round draft pick has spent six years in Pittsburgh and improved in every aspect during that time. He's been an anchor within a consistently impressive defense, and he could bring that to the Patriots with ease.
Not only is he a solid run defender, which the team needs to address this offseason after some of its best players departed in free agency, but he is also exceptionally good at pressuring quarterbacks, as he showed last season with 9.5 sacks. Accomplishing that alongside T.J. Watt is certainly notable.
More impressive is that his best statistical season (2022) is also the year he was on the field the most, recording 941 total snaps for the Steelers defense. That season, he logged 63 combined tackles, 12 for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, and 14.5 sacks.
Although he hasn't replicated that kind of production in the few years since, he has remained consistently productive and established a leadership role that the Patriots would be foolish to pass on if the Steelers are willing to trade him.
It would cost a second-round pick, and maybe that's not the most desirable in the minds of some fans. But if they can get a linebacker on their defensive line who immediately elevates the group, that's hard to pass on. And luckily, they have two fourth-round picks and four sixth-rounders, so they could easily trade up if they choose to.
It seems like a win-win situation for all involved.
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