Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore was grabbed by the Patriots Friday night in the second round after they traded up to get him. (AP photo)

BOSTON (AP) — The New England Patriots traded up eight spots in the second round Friday night to select former Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore with the 38th pick of the NFL draft.

The Patriots swapped their second-round pick (46th overall) and two fourth rounders (122 and 139) to Cincinnati for the shot to grab Barmore.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins snared Exeter High School alum Hunter Long, a 6-5 tight end, in the third round with the 81st pick. The last New Hampshire player drafted that high was Nashua North alum Kendall Reyes in the second round in 2010 by the then-San Diego Chargers. Long will face the Patriots twice a season with Miami, including annual visits to Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots stayed defense in the third round as well, drafting Oklahoma defensive end Ronnie Perkins, with the 96th overall. What’s special about that pick is it’s the compensatory pick the team received for losing Tom Brady as a free agent a year ago to Tampa Bay.

A night after standing pat with the No. 15 pick and taking another Alabama player — quarterback Mac Jones in their search for a long-term replacement for Tom Brady — New England looked to build its defense as it attempts to retool following a disappointing season.

Both of their first two picks played for Nick Saban, a longtime friend and former coaching colleague of Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Barmore, listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, played two seasons for the national champion Crimson Tide before declaring for the NFL draft and forgoing his final two college seasons. He was the defensive MVP of the title game last season after being named to the SEC All-Freshman team his first year. He was also All-SEC last season.

“It’s pretty unusual to get the first interior defensive lineman to get drafted at that point in the draft,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Look forward to working with Christian, he’s played a number of different positions in Coach (Alabama’s Nick) Saban’s defense.

Barmore says he’ll play anywhere up front the Patriots need him.

“That’s how it was at Alabama,” he said. “Wherever Coach puts me at, I’m just ready to be ready. … I don’t model my game after anybody, I play like myself. But I’m really blessed to play for the Patriots really. Trust me, I’m going to be the (best) player I can be for the team.”

And he’s going to play for one coaching legend after playing for another, Nick Saban.

“You know, being selected by Bill Belichick and especially having learned from a guy like Coach Saban, it’s a blessing being a part of both of them,” he said. “Playing for both of them, it’s a dream come true.”

“He’ shown good ability as a pass rusher,” Belichick said. “That’s a high level, high quality of football in the SEC. Has good knack, good instinct with his size.”

And Belichick also said he gained another defensive plus in Perkins, who played in only six games last season after a failed drug test but still had 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Belichick said he was satisfied with the background issues with Perkins.

“Ronnie’s a disruptive player, physical, outside linebacker, defenseive end type,” Belichick said. “Another guy with a good ability to be disruptive on defense.”

“Dealing with some off-the-field stuff that kind of affected me on the field,” Perkins said. “Just becoming an NFL player, learning not to make that mistake again and learning how to deal with that off-the field issue.

“I just can;t wait to go out there and get there and get the whole thing, like man, I’m really a Patriot now. I just can’t wait.”

After finishing 7-9, the team’s first losing record since Belichick’s initial season in 2000, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008, New England spent nearly $160 million in guaranteed money in the opening days of free agency, most of it on the offensive side of the ball.

The Patriots signed the top two tight ends on the market — Jonnu Smith ($31 million) and Hunter Henry ($25 million), an edge rusher in linebacker Matthew Judon ($32 million) and receiver Nelson Agholor ($15 million).

The Patriots were stripped of their own third-round pick as punishment for their television crew filming the field and sideline during a Dec. 8, 2019, game between Cincinnati and Cleveland. They were also fined $1.1 million.

The Patriots go into today with one fourth rounder (No. 120 overall), one fifth rounder (No. 177), two sixth round picks and one seventh rounder.

(Telegraph staff writer Tom King contributed to this report.)