FOXBORO — Familiar faces dot his new locker room, but everything else for Barkevious Mingo has a different feel.

The defensive end/outside linebacker and sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft noted the difference after being traded last Thursday from the perennially struggling Browns to the annually contending Patriots.

“It’s a huge culture shock,” Mingo said yesterday. “I felt like the winning spirit was making its way into Cleveland with those new coaches, but it’s definitely been established here for a long time, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Mingo’s also excited to renew some old bonds. Both he and tackle Anthony Johnson played on the same defensive line at LSU. Jabaal Sheard was a mentor to Mingo when he entered the league in Cleveland. Mingo trained with Pats linebacker Jamie Collins before the draft and went head-to-head against Alabama product Dont’a Hightower on an annual basis in college.

The relationship with Sheard might resonate the most. Mingo referred to his rookie year as “gruesome.” He played in 15 games and made five sacks, but the team was 4-12, and Mingo didn’t live up to his pre-draft hype in three years there.

It took an emotional toll.

“Jabaal was there my first year, and he carried me along in that long, long year,” he said. “But to have him again is a huge relief.”

Mingo’s lack of pro production — just seven career sacks in 46 games — sticks out, but there are several reasons to think he could be in for a turnaround in Foxboro.

For one, the lack of coaching continuity in Cleveland didn’t help. He played for two different head coaches and defensive coordinators in three years and admitted it stunted his learning curve. That sort of issue is not a problem with the Pats.

Also, Mingo’s versatility has, at times, given teams difficulty in finding the best way to utilize him. At LSU, he was almost exclusively a 4-3 defensive end. In Cleveland, he was converted into a 3-4 outside linebacker. Alabama coach Nick Saban tried to recruit Mingo to the Crimson Tide in the latter role. Since Saban and Patriots coach Bill Belichick share many of the same defensive philosophies, perhaps now the staff will have a better understanding of how to use the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder.

And then there are reclamation projects that so often occur on this defense. Sheard, Alan Branch and last year Akiem Hicks, to name a few, all saw their production spike after coming to the Pats.

Mingo used the term “fresh start” a number of times and seemed giddy to be with the Patriots. His optimism is not unfounded.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “This team is stacked at every position. They have guys on the outside who can cover. We’ve got interior guys who are holding gaps and linebackers that are hitting those gaps and making big plays. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”