The New England Patriots signed the first of their two Round 1 picks Wednesday by getting DE Chandler Jones under contract.

Jones, who played collegiately at Syracuse, was taken 21st overall and will surely be counted on to bolster the team's pass rush since neither of last year's most productive defensive ends (Mark Anderson and Andre Carter, who had 10 sacks apiece) were re-signed in free agency.

Jones is the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens DL Arthur Jones and UFC light heavyweight champion Jones "Bones" Jones.

The Patriots' other first-round selection, former Alabama LB Dont'a Hightower, remains unsigned.

