It's one thing to hear how a rookie is doing from his teammates. It's another to get the opinion of a veteran NFL player like Saints LT Jermon Bushrod. And the six-year veteran likes what he sees out of DE Chandler Jones, the Patriots' top draft pick.
"He definitely looks the part, man. When you see him, he’s a tall guy who’s got long arms, long legs," Bushrod said. "Going up against him he has good power. Obviously, he has the speed to get around the edge, just a very shifty player, I think he’s going to have a very promising future in this league."
Jones has been one of the big standouts in Patriots camp so far. It appears he has a stranglehold on the starting RDE spot.
When the Patriots took him early out of Syracuse, the thought was that he wouldn't be strong enough to play every down and was headed for a role as a situational pass rusher.
But Jones has come to camp much stronger than anticipated, and his pass moves are much more advanced than most rookies.
Jones will book end with LDE Rob Ninkovich, a former Saint.
"I know what Ninkovich brings to the table -- he’s a hard-nosed, high-energy guy, and he’ll bring it play in and play out," Bushrod said. "He’s had a great career here in New England for the last three or four years, so he’s been doing a good job and I’m very proud of him."
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