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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The first thing that stood out when veteran Patriots safety Adrian Wilson arrived for a media interview on Tuesday was his size. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, the chiseled Wilson looks more like a linebacker than a safety.

That’s why teammates have nicknamed him The Incredible Hulk.

“I think it’s rather funny,” Wilson said Tuesday with a smile. “Things like that happen, I guess, once you get to know the guys.”

That connection with teammates is one of the most important things to him as he makes the transition to New England after 12 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. It’s a big change for him.

“It’s scary,” acknowledged the hard-hitting Wilson, who donned a red throwback Patriots cap and gray Patriots T-shirt. “Obviously you want to come in with the right mindset and you just want to get along with the guys. You want to kind of make sure you hang around them and get to know each and every guy. That’s the biggest concern I have right now, that I know all the guys that I’m going to be playing with. Right now we’re moving in the right direction.”

One direction Wilson didn't want to go was backwards; he said he didn't want to get into any Patriots vs. Cardinals comparisons. But when asked to describe his style of play for those who haven’t seen him much, he veered slightly off path to acknowledge some of his doubters. Wilson was taken off the field in passing situations last year, and because of that, he might be arriving in New England with a chip on his shoulder.

“I felt like I’ve had a pretty good career so far. Last year was last year. Obviously, things didn’t go my way, as far as the way I wanted them to go,” he said. “Obviously players slow down as they get older, but they also have experience and they’ve seen a lot of things as far as football. To say that a person is not good enough, that wouldn’t be the right verbiage to use, as far as that is concerned. I feel like I can help this team win. That’s pretty much what I’m here to do.”

Wilson added that he’s become a smarter football player over the years, no longer taking “ridiculous chances to make a splash play.”

A few more soundbites from Wilson:

Why he chose New England. “Why not? ... I think the way they run things is totally different from anywhere else. The winning mentality, it’s not pressure to them, or to us now. It’s going out there and expecting to win every game.”

Perception of New England around the NFL. “That they win. Other than that, a very disciplined team, a team that you’re going to have to beat them. It’s like the champ; you have to undecidedly beat the champ, you can’t just go out there and box a good 12 rounds. You have to actually knock them out.”

On if his offer of a year’s worth of Pampers to Kyle Arrington for the No. 24 has closed the deal. “I think we’re still working on that.”

Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from Patriots followers are answered as part of a weekly mailbag. This week's mailbag has been posted and includes some of the following topics:

1. Exploring all the defensive draft picks in recent years and if the unit will be better.

2. The evolving wide receiver position.

3. Trading down and if the Patriots are sacrificing top talent to do so.

4. The curious selection of Rutgers safety Duron Harmon in the third round.

5. Safety Tavon Wilson, defensive lineman Armond Armstead, defensive end Jake Bequette, cornerback Ras-I Dowling and more.

The Dallas Cowboys are using the New England Patriots' offensive blueprint as they build their team, which is a theme that owner Jerry Jones relayed after this year's draft.

Some felt the Cowboys reached with their draft picks (first-round center Travis Frederick), just as some have felt the Patriots did over the years (e.g. Logan Mankins in the 2005 first round). There was also a heavy focus on tight end (second-round pick Gavin Escobar) as well as a plan of adopting a running back by committee approach.

Here is part of a piece on DallasCowboys.com:

During every day of the NFL draft, following his post-draft press conferences, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones spoke briefly with the media, and three days in a row he referenced the Patriots specifically.

“They’re a good role model for us,” Jones said Thursday night. “They’ve got a quarterback in Brady, they’ve done a good job of having an offensive football team and they’ve given up a little bit on their defense – they want to score points. ...

"We welcome the opportunity to add a real tight end – with New England-type emphasis there. And can this quarterback have both of them? He sure can."

Head coach Jason Garrett added: "They’re a team, like a lot of teams around the league, that we’ll study in the offseason. We’ll watch what they do and see what the trends are. They typically do the trends better than most, so they’re a good example for us."

To read the piece, CLICK HERE.

Kent State offensive lineman Josh Kline has signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent, according to the school.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Kline played left guard and left tackle for the Golden Flashes, and crossed paths with current Patriots receiver Julian Edelman for one season at Kent State (2008).

The school noted that Kline had a private workout for the Patriots after Kent State's Pro Day.

The Patriots didn't draft an offensive lineman this year, and have focused on the position in free agency. In addition to Kline, Penn State center Matt Stankiewitch has agreed to terms with the Patriots, according to a source.

Kline faces longer odds for a roster spot, but given the way the Patriots have utilized the practice squad in the past to develop young blockers, his inclusion in the team's program is notable.

The Patriots’ official list of rookie free agents should be announced in the coming days. Because those agreements can be fluid, and things can change quickly, we’ve avoided them unless they were independently confirmed.

One that we feel comfortable locking in is South Florida defensive tackle Cory Grissom.

A source confirmed that Grissom has agreed to a deal with New England, and if NFL draft guru Gil Brandt is on the mark, the signing is a coup for the Patriots. Brandt, writing on NFL.com, ranked Grissom as the top undrafted defensive tackle.

The 6-foot-1 3/8 and 306 pound Grissom was a three-year starter at South Florida from 2010-2012, appearing in 37 games. Injuries over his college career might have contributed to him going undrafted.

The Pro Football Weekly draft preview projected Grissom as a fifth- to sixth-round pick. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated him as the 16th defensive tackle (Insider content).

The Patriots have Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick as their top returning interior linemen, while Armond Armstead of the Canadian Football League could be a factor.

Now Grissom joins the mix and his profile as a two-down run-stuffer seems to fit closest to Love’s.

EXTRA POINT: Maryland defensive lineman Joe Vellano will attend Patriots rookie minicamp, the Albany Times-Union reports. It is unclear if Vellano will be in attendance on a tryout basis, or if he has signed a contract.

The Patriots announced the release of five players on Monday: wide receiver Jeremy Ebert (as previously reported by Mike Reiss), fullback Tony Fiammetta, tight end Brad Herman, defensive lineman Tracy Robertson and defensive back Malcolm Williams.

Fiammetta recently was moved from the reserve/left squad list to the active roster. He spent the entire 2012 regular season on the reserve/left squad list after signing with the team as a free agent last offseason.

Herman was signed as an undrafted free agent last year, but suffered an Achilles' injury that kept him out for his entire rookie season.

Robertson was signed to the team's practice squad late last season, then signed a reserve/future contract following the season.

Williams, a 2011 seventh-round draft choice, moved between the active roster and practice squad in 2012, playing primarily in a special teams role.

With the NFL draft now over, let's reset the Patriots roster with a projected depth chart at each position. Depth charts are always fluid, and we expect these to change in the coming weeks and months as we learn more about the additions to the roster and their roles.

NFL rosters can include up to 90 players at this juncture of the offseason, and the Patriots likely will add another crop of undrafted free agents in the coming days. For now, only those confirmed by ESPNBoston.com are included.

Including our confirmed undrafted free agents, the Patriots roster currently stands at 73 players, leaving room for 17 additions.

Quarterback (3)

1. Tom Brady
2. Ryan Mallett
3. Mike Kafka

Quick hit: The team could look to add an extra arm for the purposes of OTA’s and minicamps, but with Brady and Mallett in tow, the position is secure at the top.

Running back (5)

1. Stevan Ridley
2. Shane Vereen
3. Leon Washington
4. Brandon Bolden
5. LeGarrette Blount

Quick hit: An area of depth got deeper with the addition of Blount. He’s a niche player -- not an every-down back -- and the Patriots have a nice stable of talent in the backfield.

Fullback (1)

James Develin

Quick hit: We thought the return of Josh McDaniels might result in more two-back sets, but that turned out not to entirely be the case.

Wide receiver (9)

1. Danny Amendola
2. Aaron Dobson
3. Julian Edelman
4. Josh Boyce
5. Donald Jones
6. Michael Jenkins
7. Kamar Aiken
8. Matthew Slater
9. Andre Holmes

Quick hit: No position will be watched more closely (similar to last offseason). If Dobson or Boyce can make an immediate impact, the passing game should be in good shape.

Tight end (6)

1. Rob Gronkowski
2. Aaron Hernandez
3. Jake Ballard
4. Michael Hoomanawanui
5. Daniel Fells
6. Zach Sudfeld

Quick hit: If healthy, this group is as dynamic as any other tight end group in the NFL. But Gronkowski, Hernandez and Ballard all enter 2013 recovering from injuries.

Offensive tackle (4)

1. Nate Solder (left)
2. Sebastian Vollmer (right)
3. Will Svitek (swing)
4. Markus Zusevics (right)

Quick hit: The duo of Solder and Vollmer is unquestionably strong. Svitek provides insurance for Solder on the left side with the ability to play on the right side as well.

Guard (5)

1. Logan Mankins
2. Dan Connolly
3. Marcus Cannon
4. Nick McDonald
5. Chris McDonald

Quick hit: Mankins anchors the line with his toughness, while Connolly, Cannon and Nick McDonald have unique positional versatility. Cannon could still work at tackle, but the addition of Svitek allows the team to try him inside more.

Center (2)

1. Ryan Wendell
2. Matt Stankiewitch

Quick hit: Coming off a standout season, Wendell will look for another strong campaign before becoming a free agent. Connolly and Nick McDonald can play center too if needed.

Defensive end (7)

1. Chandler Jones
2. Rob Ninkovich
3. Justin Francis
4. Jermaine Cunningham
5. Jake Bequette
6. Michael Buchanan
7. Jason Vega

Quick hit: Another veteran pass rusher would go a long way for this group. John Abraham remains available and could provide a nice boost. Jones looks to build off of a promising rookie season.

Defensive tackle (7)

1. Vince Wilfork
2. Tommy Kelly
3. Brandon Deaderick
4. Kyle Love
5. Armond Armstead
6. Marcus Forston

Quick hit: We’d expect Kelly to have a shot to start alongside Wilfork, with each having backups to set up a nice rotation. Armstead is an intriguing player with a high upside.

Linebacker (10)

1. Jerod Mayo
2. Dont’a Hightower
3. Brandon Spikes
4. Jamie Collins
5. Dane Fletcher
6. Mike Rivera
7. Niko Koutouvides
8. Steve Beauharnais
9. Jeff Tarpinian
10. Marcus Benard

Quick hit: The appeal of adding Collins could be rooted in his athleticism to play in space and cover. The uniquely athletic top draft choice could be used in a variety of ways in 2013.

Cornerbacks (7)

1. Aqib Talib
2. Alfonzo Dennard
3. Kyle Arrington
4. Logan Ryan
5. Ras-I Dowling
6. Marquice Cole

Quick hit: The top trio is a holdover group from 2012, and Ryan may compete for time in sub-packages as a rookie. Dowling, despite a track record of injuries, remains an intriguing player because of his size.

Safeties (6)

1. Devin McCourty
2. Tavon Wilson
3. Steve Gregory
4. Adrian Wilson
5. Duron Harmon
6. Nate Ebner

Quick hit: It’s easy to peg McCourty as one starter, but more difficult to decipher who will align next to him in base defenses. With the addition of Wilson in free agency and Harmon, the third safety drafted in two years, the Patriots have a nice blend of youth and experience.

Specialists (3)

Punter Zoltan Mesko
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
Long Snapper Danny Aiken

Quick hit: Aiken and Mesko enter the final year of their contract in 2013, while Gostkowski has two years remaining on his deal.

The Patriots newest rookies won't have to wait long to get to work, as the team's rookie minicamp will begin this Friday, May 3, and will run through Sunday, May 5, it was announced on Monday.

The rookie minicamp (not open to the public) is an opportunity for the players to begin to learn the playbook and familiarize themselves with the facility, coaching staff and some of their new teammates.

In addition, several first-year players and 2012 rookies are likely to take part in the minicamp.

The Patriots drafted seven players this year, led by Jamie Collins, a linebacker out of Southern Mississippi.

There is still the potential for signings, but for the most part, the foundation of the Patriots’ 90-player roster is set. We’ll be breaking that down in the coming days, but before we get to that, one thing stood out from this perspective.

In a matter of months, the Patriots went from one of the oldest receiving corps in the NFL to one of the youngest.

2012 (top 6 from December into playoffs)
Kamar Aiken -- 23
Deion Branch -- 33
Julian Edelman -- 26
Brandon Lloyd -- 31
Donte’ Stallworth-- 32
Wes Welker – 31
Average age: 29.3

2013 (top 6 as of April 29)
Danny Amendola – 27
Aaron Dobson – turns 22 on July 23
Josh Boyce -- turns 22 on May 6
Julian Edelman – 26
Donald Jones -- 25
Michael Jenkins -- 30
Average age: 25.3

QUICK-HIT THOUGHTS: The numbers can be manipulated slightly but any way it’s sliced, this is the position that has undergone the biggest transition on the roster from an age perspective. It’s similar to what the Patriots did at running back from 2010 to 2011. Whenever young players are being integrated into the mix, it highlights the importance of coaching. Receivers coach Chad O’Shea will be part an integral part of coaching up the younger group, and Bill Belichick noted that he will be involved to some degree, as will offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and assistant Brian Daboll.

The Jets released Tim Tebow on Monday morning, prompting pundits everywhere to wonder where the lightning-rod quarterback will catch on next.

Marc Sessler of NFL.com lists the Patriots as a possible landing spot. Bill Belichick praised Tebow before the 2010 draft and was even spotted having dinner with him in Boston, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was coach of the Broncos when they took him in the first round that year.

But is a Tebow-to-Patriots possibility realistic? Our guys give their take:

* Mike Reiss: Nothing would surprise me when it comes to Tim Tebow and the Patriots. I have no inside information that the team has even a small level of interest. But I do know this after watching 14 years of roster construction: Bill Belichick's view on building a team often places a value on things beyond tangible statistics such as completion percentage. It is why he doesn't hesitate to draft someone like Rutgers safety Duron Harmon in the third round when many had him as a free-agent type, and it is why I wouldn't rule out the possibility of signing Tebow until Belichick himself puts the kibosh on any chatter. Belichick knows that every move he makes sends a message to every player in the locker room (e.g. why half-committed Jeff Demps was traded to Tampa on Saturday), and if he thinks having Tebow around is a positive, I don't think he'd hesitate. In fact, I think there would be a part of him that might like it, similar to having Doug Flutie around in 2005 (not comparing them as players as much as their presence).

* Field Yates: Though there's an obvious tie between Tebow and the Patriots organization in McDaniels, the Patriots re-confirmed their already unwavering support to Tom Brady this offseason by inking him to a three-year contract extension. While Tebow may find a role in the NFL as a situational quarterback who can be effectively used in goal line/short yardage situations, when you have Brady on your roster, your intention is to play him on every snap. The Patriots likely don't view Tebow as a comparable prospect to Ryan Mallett as it relates to being a conventional back-up to Brady because his skill set is so dissimilar. Rather than adding a quarterback who would require multiple alterations to the offense to work with, the Patriots seem more likely to stay with their tried-and-true system.

* Mike Rodak: While the prospect of Tebow in a Patriots uniform can generate buzz, don't hold your breath for the league's most famous backup quarterback to land in New England. Yes, the Patriots could be in the market for another quarterback -- behind Brady, they have only Mallett and Mike Kafka under contract -- but it won't be Tebow. That word "value" we heard connected to the Patriots this weekend during the draft applies here. Tebow's style of play won't work in the Patriots offense, and he is hardly a difference-maker in his limited time on special teams. Even at a minimum contract, the value just isn't there for the Patriots.

The Patriots have informed wide receiver Jeremy Ebert, a seventh-round pick in 2012, of his release, a league source told ESPNBoston.com.

It's the second time that the team has parted ways with the Northwestern product, as he was released at the conclusion of training camp last August. He went on to briefly join the Eagles practice squad before later reuniting with the Patriots as a member of the practice squad in November. He was signed to a reserve/future contract earlier this year.

An injury slowed Ebert during portions of training camp and he finished with six catches for 43 yards and one touchdown in four preseason games.

The Patriots have retooled their wide receiver corps this offseason with the additions of Danny Amendola, Michael Jenkins and Donald Jones in free agency (they also re-signed Julian Edelman), and recently drafted both Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce.

ESPN's NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr., who works exhaustively throughout the year to prepare for this process, has weighed in with his take on the Patriots' draft class.

In a piece posted to ESPN.com, Kiper has graded each of the 32 teams with a three-part assessment: finding value, filling needs and an overall mark.

As it relates to filling needs, Kiper gave the Patriots a B, along with a C for value, good enough for an overall assessment of a C-plus.

Writes Kiper:

"The Patriots got a pretty good return from the Vikings to get out of Round 1 at No. 29, assuming Minnesota's second-round pick, then adding picks in Rounds 3, 4 and 7. It was about as Patriots as it gets. Jamie Collins was a productive linebacker for a really bad team at Southern Miss, and provides some needed depth. He's a typical Bill Belichick addition, because he should be pretty versatile, and could move either inside or outside, where he could also provide a pass-rushing presence if needed. Aaron Dobson has a chance to develop, but it's a coin flip if he provides much Year 1 impact. What he does offer is a player who can stretch the field and back up safeties. Same with Josh Boyce. Logan Ryan provides nickel depth now, and they clearly see something in Duron Harmon, who was a huge reach. I think New England could have signed him as an undrafted free agent. The Patriots added some interesting players late. Steve Beauharnaisis way too good to be sitting there in Round 7, and Michael Buchanan will get a shot to stick because he has some talent but just hasn't put it all together. I don't see a starter out of this draft in the short-term, but they added players with some really good traits. It's just a matter of development now."

To read the piece in its entirety, CLICK HERE (Insider content).

EXTRA POINT: For a different viewpoint of the Patriots' draft, CBSSports' Pete Prisco hands out his marks (while noting it's early to do so and he plans to revisit in three years). Prisco likes linebacker Jamie Collins a lot, but has some doubts about receiver Aaron Dobson. To read Prisco's piece, CLICK HERE.

While I was not present at Gillette Stadium with the rest of the ESPNBoston.com team during the three days of the 2013 NFL draft, I kept a close eye on the Patriots' maneuvers and selections from my spot inside of Radio City Music Hall, the site of the event.

Here's a round-by-round "play-by-play" of the Patriots' draft selections and strategy from this vantage point.

Round 1
Throughout our predraft coverage, we echoed the sentiment that pick 29 seemed likely to end up in the hands of another team besides the Patriots, as there didn't appear to be a player at a primary area of need (wide receiver especially) that would align with how the team valued that pick. Beyond that, the Patriots entered the draft with just five total selections, two of which were seventh-rounders. The swap that sent the pick to Minnesota landed the Patriots four picks in total and afforded Bill Belichick the flexibility throughout the draft that he covets. The Patriots wound up with five of the top 102 selections, a range where an abundance of starting level talent is available.

For those who might wonder why the Patriots passed on wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson at pick 29, it appears that he wasn't a fit within the team's offense. While he has impressive natural skills, he could be a player who needs time to develop into a polished NFL target. Given the Patriots' current depth chart at the position, they need players who are closer to being able contribute.

Round 2
The Patriots made their first selection in Southern Mississippi linebacker Jamie Collins, a player that Belichick personally worked out in the process leading up to the draft. While Collins wasn't a headline name in this draft, he offers unique versatility and explosiveness that the Patriots' front seven -- which continues its makeover that began last draft -- needs. It's too soon to know for sure what role Collins will play, as he -- much like Dont'a Hightower at Alabama -- wore several hats in college. We highlighted the need for speed at the linebacker position before the draft, and Collins was regarded by some experts as one of the top coverage linebackers in the draft. While he may not start in the Patriots' base defense in 2013, Collins looks like a player who will see the field both on defense and in special teams as a rookie, and offers the team depth if either Brandon Spikes or Rob Ninkovich (both in the final year of their contract) leaves next offseason.

Aaron Dobson is more than just an alum of SportsCenter's "Top Play", he's also a big-bodied, polished receiver who can run. The Patriots needed a target who could not only play on the perimeter of the field but also be a key target for Tom Brady in the red zone. That was something they sorely lacked from the receiver position in 2012 but that Dobson projects to bring as a rookie. He has an impressive frame and catch radius, and as we've seen in recent seasons, Patriots receivers face man-to-man coverage in the red zone while defenses steer attention toward Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Dobson could be a new red-zone favorite.

Round 3
The "Rutgers round" landed the Patriots a pair of defensive backs, kicked off by Logan Ryan. While the Patriots were able to retain Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington and Marquice Cole this offseason, cornerback is an area that they needed to keep an eye on for depth and development purposes beyond 2013. There isn't pressure on Ryan to come in and be a starter or even a nickelback as a rookie, but he'll have a chance to come in and compete. The Patriots likely saw a physical presence in Ryan who is more quick than fast and has a high-character level. Limitations are the lack of top-end speed and explosiveness, which played a part in his being drafted in the third round.

Duron Harmon seems to be the pick that many are talking about, particularly because many draft experts felt he was a better option later in the draft or perhaps as a priority undrafted free agent. Without having seen much of Harmon play, it's hard to offer a scouting report on his abilities, but the theme that should be reinforced here is that every team approaches the draft with their own board, not a board constructed off what others believe. The Patriots believe that Harmon, who is another player with extremely high character, was a worthy selection in the third round, and while others may have felt differently, it would have taken only one team to like him and foil the Patriots' plans. Rather than putting something to chance, the Patriots added a player who won't necessarily have to play a ton in 2013, but can be a depth addition for future seasons.

Round 4
The feeling here is that the Patriots found a really good football player in Josh Boyce, as he has many of the requisite physical traits to succeed in the NFL. He's a physical, fast, strong wideout who projects to play on the perimeter. Both he and Dobson add a combination of size and toughness. The Patriots didn't have that type of receiver in 2012, and those types of players are needed when facing physical teams such as Baltimore and Cincinnati, who both look strong entering 2013. Boyce's foot injury will be one to monitor going forward.

Round 7
The picks of Michael Buchanan and Steve Beauharnais can be lumped into a similar category, as both are players that many projected wouldn't last nearly as long on the draft board as they did. So while Harmon is publicly perceived to have been overdrafted, the opposite is true for the Patriots' seventh-rounders.

The feeling here is that the seventh round has always been an area for a team to think outside the box a bit and focus less on top needs and more on players with a dynamic element to them. For Buchanan, it's his pass rush, as he recorded 12 sacks during his final two college seasons. Meanwhile, Beauharnais can play on special teams right away and could develop into a two-down linebacker.

Jeff Demps trade
One of the interesting third-day developments was the decision to trade speedy running back Jeff Demps and a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay for LeGarrette Blount. We'll start with the Demps angle. This strikes us as a move that was motivated, at least in part, by Demps' wavering commitment to football. He has made it clear he intends to continue to pursue his track career, and that would prevent him from committing full-time to football. Demps was a raw prospect who the Patriots took a chance on last season, and the team may be sending a message to the newest rookies in sending Demps to Tampa Bay: It's all about football, and you're here to work. There was a stretch when Patriots rookies used to not speak to the media at all, due in large part to the fact that they had more than enough on their hands in learning the playbook and settling into the NFL. To hang on to Jeff Demps -- who already has had his shot with the Patriots and made his intentions clear -- while trying to instill that "all-business" attitude in the rookies could be difficult.

As for Blount, his own frills are well-documented, and some are drawing comparisons to his standing in Tampa Bay with Demps' in New England. And while there's little denying that Blount has something to prove in New England, he, like every other player acquired by the team, shows up with a clean slate as it relates to football. Blount is a low-risk investment from a financial standpoint, and shouldn't be perceived as a lock to make the roster. He's not an every-down back and he's not an elusive player, but he has power and can be used near the goal line. Time will tell what he becomes.

Overall thoughts
The sentiment here is that evaluating drafts is an entirely fluid process. It's easy to say a team "won" or "lost" the draft in the hours and days after it, but rarely do those assessments hold true. Perhaps a better approach is to dig deep into why each team made the picks that they did and try to tap inside of their thinking: Does this player fill a position need? Is he a great value? Does he make our locker room better? Tougher? Smarter?

Countless hours of research and preparation goes into the draft process, and while the Patriots haven't been perfect, the organization has an extensive list of quality picks. A year (or couple of years) from now we'll have a better feel for what type of players they have found and will be able to "grade" the class with more conviction. For now, it appears that the Patriots were able to add a blend of players who filled needs and add competition to other areas of the roster.

Looking forward to watching them on the field.

Quick-hit thoughts around the NFL and with the Patriots:

1a. Here are some of the notes I jotted down on top Patriots draft choice Jamie Collins, the Southern Mississippi outside linebacker/defensive end, from an NFL assistant coach who assisted in the scouting process on him and had direct contact with him prior to the draft: "Freak athlete. Quiet kid. Biggest knock is his lack of motor and not always playing hard, but could be tied to playing on a poor team his final year. Structure of Patriots program has a chance to knock that out of him. First-round physical skills."

1b. Collins, the youngest of five children, was raised by his sister Lisa after their parents died before Collins turned 6. That hardship and adversity has naturally played a big role in shaping his character. I think he'll fit well in the Patriots' program.

1c. Collins was one of the busier prospects leading into the draft, taking visits with the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins, 49ers, Jaguars, Ravens, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers and Texans. Usually when a player is in that high demand, there is either a medical question (not so much with Collins) or it's a reflection of teams "catching up" with a player later in the process as maybe some of his testing results had teams taking a closer look. Collins, it seems, was a player who rose in the eyes of several teams after the season as coaches became more involved in the process.

2. Five of the Patriots' seven picks in the 2013 draft were defensive players. Six of the seven players drafted by the Patriots in 2012 played defense. Add those 11 defenders to high picks in 2011 (second-round CB Ras-I Dowling) and 2010 (first-round DB Devin McCourty, second-round LBs Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes) -- not to mention acquisitions like Aqib Talib and others already in place -- and it seems fair to say that if the Patriots' defense can't turn a more decisive corner it will be a major disappointment. That's a lot of draft capital devoted to defense.

3. With the Patriots drafting two receivers -- Marshall's Aaron Dobson (second round) and Texas Christian's Josh Boyce (fourth round) -- it will be interesting to see if that affects where Bill Belichick slots assistant coach Brian Daboll on his staff. Daboll was the receivers coach in 2002 when the Patriots had their greatest success in developing rookie receivers with Deion Branch and David Givens, and he returned to the club last January in a roving type role. Receivers coach Chad O'Shea has been with the Patriots since 2009, arriving in the year that Josh McDaniels departed to become Broncos head coach, and he's back coaching receivers again in 2013. When I asked Belichick if Daboll would be working with receivers at times, he said he would in some form. "We didn't bring him here to tape ankles," Belichick said, stopping short of getting into specifics on Daboll's role.

4. Interested to see how things shake out for the Dolphins at offensive tackle, which was a need entering the draft. Third-round draft choice Dallas Thomas of Tennessee, a solid pick who would have fit well in New England, has tackle-guard versatility and the Dolphins aren't saying where he'll play, only that they'll start working with him on the left side (likely at guard). For all the moves the Dolphins have made this offseason, the tackle spot still looks like question mark and it resonates here because I thought the Patriots exploited that at times last season. However it unfolds, they're surely counting on Jonathan Martin, a still-developing 2012 second-round pick, to make the type of jump that Nate Solder did for the Patriots in his second season. He's likely the starting left tackle.

5. Part of Bill Belichick's greatness is tied to his strong belief and unwillingness to go along with the "groupthink" that can be a big part of football scouting, which might explain why there always seems to be at least one selection that is so far outside the box that it leaves many scratching their heads (e.g. Tavon Wilson in the 2012 second round; Duron Harmon in the 2013 third round). In those cases, it would be interesting to see the notes of all the Patriots scouts who wrote reports on the prospect, and the coaches who evaluated them, to see if there was some across-the-board momentum from multiple scouts, or if it was more a case of Belichick standing alone and making the call. When the selection seems like such an outlier, it makes you wonder.

6. Schedule thought with a draft-based twist: E.J. Manuel (Bills), Geno Smith (Jets) and Mike Glennon (Buccaneers) -- it's possible that the Patriots could face a rookie quarterback in each of the first three weeks of the 2013 regular season.

7a. There was a time when it almost seemed like a guarantee that the Patriots could come out of a draft with an extra pick in the following year's draft. But that hasn't happened the last two years, and instead, a Belichick disciple -- Browns general manager Mike Lombardi -- cleaned up in that area over the last three days by acquiring a 2014 fourth-round pick from the Colts and a 2014 third-rounder from the Steelers. Interesting strategy by Lombardi, right out of the Belichick playbook of trying to capitalize on the urgency of others, that could set the Browns up nicely next season to be one of the teams that could have some "control" over the draft. The only other deal I saw that involved a 2014 pick was the Titans shipping a '14 third-rounder to the 49ers to move up in the second round for receiver Justin Hunter.

7b. As it stands now, the Patriots have their full arsenal of picks for 2014, then a void with a seventh-round pick for 2015, which was shipped to the Rams in the Greg Salas deal.

8. The draft came and went without a deal for Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, which wasn't much of a surprise. I think the key for Mallett is the upcoming preseason. If he lights it up, then there's a greater chance he's traded at this time next year. If not, I could see him finishing out his initial four-year contract with the Patriots which runs through the 2014 season and then being free to explore opportunities on the open market. If you're the Patriots, there's no need to rush it unless there's an offer you can't refuse. Mallett is an important insurance policy. Not that anyone needed the reminder, but the Giants traded up in the fourth round for Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib as part of their insurance policy for Eli Manning.

9. The door likely isn't permanently shut, but was thinking that with the Patriots drafting receivers Aaron Dobson (second round) and Josh Boyce (fourth round), it likely means that veteran Deion Branch won't be back. And along those lines, I wondered if the surprising selection of Rutgers safety Duron Harmon in the third round could make things tougher for veteran safety Steve Gregory when vying for a roster spot.

10. Hard to believe, but it's been three straight drafts in which the Patriots have completely avoided selecting a big, burly interior defensive lineman. Maybe they were spooked by selecting Ron Brace (6-3, 330) in 2009, but a more likely scenario is that since they aren't lining up as much with those players on the field, they aren't needed as much as they once were. In the old days of the 3-4 defense, Belichick used to load up in the draft with high picks such as Richard Seymour (2001), Ty Warren (2003), Vince Wilfork (2004), Marquise Hill (2004) and then attempt to fill in depth with the likes of mid-round picks such as Jarvis Green (2002), LeKevin Smith (2006) and Kareem Brown (2007). Now those picks seem to be going to defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid types, with Jamie Collins, Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower, Jermaine Cunningham, Markell Carter and Michael Buchanan among those drafted by the team over the last four years. It's a good reflection of how the times have changed. It wasn't long ago when it seemed like the Patriots were hesitant to delve into the hybrid ranks.

New England Patriots offensive lineman Nick McDonald will soon be re-united with his brother.

Former Michigan State guard Chris McDonald, an undrafted free agent, agreed to terms with the Patriots on Saturday evening, a source confirmed.

The younger McDonald started 39 games for the Spartans, including the final 30 of his career at right guard. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season, and was named to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list.

After losing their mother to cancer, the McDonald brothers lived on their own as teenagers and eventually were adopted by other families. ESPN.com's Liz Merrill chronicled Nick McDonald's journey to the NFL last year.