FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Last Wednesday, the New England Patriots acquired 6-foot-5, 324-pound defensive lineman Akiem Hicks in a trade with the New Orleans Saints.

Less than 24 hours after announcing that deal, the club filled an open spot on its 53-man roster by promoting 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive lineman Khyri Thornton from the practice squad.

It wasn't a coincidence that the Patriots added 639 pounds with those moves, because more reinforcements to help control the line of scrimmage will be critical as the team begins a four-games-in-19-days stretch Sunday with a road contest against the Cowboys.

Stopping the running game of the Cowboys, who have three first-round draft picks on the offensive line, has already been a point of emphasis this week for the Patriots. And that's the primary value that Hicks -- who one former teammate in New Orleans told me can be dominant when he wants to be -- brings to New England.

Hicks and Thornton join four-year player Sealver Siliga (6-2, 325), nine-year veteran Alan Branch (6-6, 350), first-round draft pick Malcom Brown (6-2, 320) and 2014 first-rounder Dominique Easley (6-2, 285) on the defensive tackle depth chart.

Hicks' excitement to be in New England was evident Monday when he talked about having "bunches of fun" in his initial days with the club, saying he hoped to be "taking a step forward" by getting "back to playing football."

It wasn't as if Hicks hadn't played for the Saints this season (he started the first three games), so perhaps his thoughts about getting back to playing football are doing what he does best -- winning with power when aligned over the center and/or guard. The Saints had him at defensive end at times this season, sometimes aligning so wide that he was rushing in space against tight ends, and it didn't appear to be a great fit.

As for Thornton, a 2014 third-round draft pick who didn't meet expectations in Green Bay, he described his strengths this way: "Playing the run. Being physical. Power."

Bill Belichick obviously wanted some more physicality, power and depth at defensive tackle, and he got 639 pounds of it in Hicks and Thornton, highlighting a loading-up-the-line theme with the notable four-games-in-19 days stretch ahead.