Report: Patriots Acquire Kony Ealy Via Trade With Panthers
BOSTON (CBS) -- Bill Belichick remains busy.
The Patriots on Friday afternoon reportedly acquired defensive end Kony Ealy from Carolina, according to Adam Schefter. The Patriots will send their second-round pick to Carolina, while the Panthers will also send their third-round pick to New England.
In essence, the Patriots dropped eight spots in the 2017 draft in order to obtain the No. 60 overall pick of the 2014 draft.
Carolina trading DE Kony Ealy and a third-round pick to Patriots in exchange for New England's second-round pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 274-pound Ealy has played in the NFL for three years, all with Carolina. He recorded four sacks as a rookie and has recorded five sacks in each of the past two seasons. He has missed just one game in his career.
The pass was putrid. But good ball skills for a humongous man. pic.twitter.com/MHrCoNDVNR
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) March 10, 2017
The 25-year-old was drafted in the second round (No. 60 overall) in the 2014 draft out of Missouri.
The second-round pick from the Patriots to the Panthers is No. 64 overall. The third-round pick going to the Patriots is No. 72 overall.
Ealy is best known for his performance against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, when he recorded three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in a losing effort for Carolina.
Last year, he played all 16 games, making six starts. He recorded 32 total tackles, including five sacks, with two forced fumbles and an interception.
Ealy is under contract for 2017 for under $1 million. He's due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2018.