FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In acquiring linebacker Kyle Van Noy in a trade on Tuesday, the New England Patriots have added a 2014 second-round draft choice who is the type of "tweener" Bill Belichick has shown a knack for collecting in recent years.
A bigger linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, Van Noy potentially could play both on and off the line of scrimmage. So he fits a similar profile as Rob Ninkovich and free-agent signing Shea McClellin in that regard, as he has some pass-rush ability but never seemed to fit well in the Detroit Lions' scheme.