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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Fans are lined up outside of Radio City Music Hall near the heart of Times Square, in anticipation of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, which is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN and WatchESPN.com.

As pictured above, Patriots "headquarters" are set up near the stage where commissioner Roger Goodell will announce each of the 32 selections tonight.

A few notes from the scene:

* Radio City Music Hall has a maximum capacity of just over 6,000, and the expectation is a full house will be on hand for the event tonight.

* Each team has a representative (or two) on site that will be responsible for communicating with decision-makers of their respective teams, and will accordingly forward the official selections to the league for announcement. For the Patriots, video coordinator Jimmy Dee and an assistant video guy Teddy Cioper are on site to relay the picks. Bill Belichick and the Patriots scouting and coaching staffs will be back at Gillette Stadium handling the selection process.

* For the first round only, each team is given 10 minutes to make their pick. In the cases of some, their decision is expedient and takes place soon after they "go on the clock," while others use their near full allotment of time.

* There's a unique aspect to this draft in that footage for the upcoming film "Draft Day," produced by Ivan Reitman, will be captured during the draft. The film is centered around a draft and the Cleveland Browns, with Kevin Costner set to star in the movie.

* While this draft lacks the elite prospects that 2012 offered, particularly at the quarterback position, the anticipation for the start of the event is typically high. Among the questions of most interest on the scene: which offensive tackle will the Chiefs take at No. 1? When will the first trade take place? How many quarterbacks will be taken in the first round? Will a team at the back end of the first round with a surplus of picks move up toward the middle of the round? Might there be a run on quarterbacks at the back end of the first round that involves team trading back into the first round?

ESPNBoston's Mike Reiss was a guest on the "Mut and Merloni" program on sports radio WEEI on Thursday. Audio of the appearance can be heard here, and the interview included some of the following topics:

1. Projecting how the Patriots might approach the 29th overall pick.

2. What defines the 2013 NFL Draft.

3. Intriguing storyline of the Patriots possibly selecting a wide receiver, an area they've had more misses than hits.

4. Revisiting the Emmanuel Sanders offer sheet.

5. Areas of need on the Patriots' roster that might be overlooked.

Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. This week's chat kicked off at noon, can be recapped here, and included some of the following topics:

1. Heavy focus on wide receivers.

2. What is good value for a first-round draft choice.

3. No overlooking the need to improve the defense.

4. Could the Patriots surprise everyone and select an interior offensive lineman early?

5. Quarterback Ryan Mallett and potential trade interest.

6. Highlighting the Patriots small draft room.

A few thoughts on the Patriots and NFL Draft, with the first round starting tonight (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET):

1. This draft appears to be different than 2012 when the Patriots coveted two players (Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower) and traded up for them in the first round. Because of that, as well as the club owning just five selections (1, 2, 3, 7a, 7b), this makes them a stronger candidate to trade down, if they deal at all.

2. The thinking with a trade down would be that the quality of player they could get at 29 is similar to 40, 50 and maybe even 60. The strength of this draft is viewed by many to be its depth into the second round (and to some, the third round). So if the Patriots could pick up an additional second- or third-round pick, that might be considered a success internally without a major sacrifice on the quality of player picked (if they make the right pick, of course).

3. Peter King of Sports Illustrated tweeted this morning that he believed some teams at the top of the second round are exploring the possibility of trading back into the 25-32 range for quarterbacks. This would be good news for the Patriots if they are looking to trade out, potentially creating some good value for their pick.

4. From an overall draft perspective, this is a year in which there aren't as many top-tier players in the first round, but that doesn't mean it's a bad draft. It's just the way the draft is structured. For example, I think Patriots offensive tackle Nate Solder (No. 17 pick in 2011) could have been a top-5 pick this year, but a player like safety Tavon Wilson (No. 48 pick in 2012) might be pushed down the Patriots' board this year based on an overall stronger group of safeties. So a big part of this is navigating the sweet spots and trying to maximize opportunities that present themselves.

5. While I'm most fascinated by the Patriots potentially selecting a receiver, this shouldn't overlook defense. It's not black and white, and a draft is always about more than just one selection.

6. Much different feeling this year with the Patriots owning just five selections. It naturally limits their flexibility to move around the board.

7. Several coaches and personnel chiefs have said publicly that this could be the most unpredictable first round in recent memory.

8. I will be based out of Gillette Stadium tonight with Mike Rodak, as that's where Patriots headquarters is located for the draft. Meanwhile, Field Yates is chipping in on ESPN's television coverage at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Looking forward to how it all unfolds.

A look at the number of draft picks the Patriots have made by position under Bill Belichick (2000-present):

Offensive line: 19
Defensive line: 18
Cornerback: 16
Linebacker: 15
Tight end: 12:
Wide receiver: 10
Running back: 8
Safety: 8
Quarterback: 7
Kicker: 2
Long snapper: 1
Punter: 1

QUICK-HIT THOUGHTS: With five positions to fill on the offensive line, it makes sense that the position would rank atop the list. The one comparison that catches the eye, and was noted in part of this piece on the Patriots' possibly drafting a receiver, is how the Patriots have selected more tight ends than receivers in Belichick's tenure. The Patriots have leaned more toward free agency and trades at receiver, but their best chance to land a No. 1 or 2 wide receiver at this time is through the draft. That sets up an intriguing storyline of the club drafting a position in which it hasn't had some of its greatest success.

With the NFL draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Robert Woods

School: Southern California

Position: Receiver

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-0, 201 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 5th (scouting report)

Draft projection: Late first round/early second round

Why he’s on our list: Woods is one of the better route-runners among receiver prospects in the draft. He isn’t a burner, but has good size and was highly productive in college. The Patriots brought in quite a few receivers for pre-draft visits, and Woods was among the group.

Recommended link: Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes on Woods’ pursuit of the Southern Cal receptions record.

Key stat: Left Southern Cal as the all-time leader in receptions (252).

Workout stat: Timed 7.51 in the 3-cone drill, which is high compared to some others (e.g. Markus Wheaton clocked 6.80).

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “One scout told me, when we talked about the way the receiver class was shaping up the week of the Senior Bowl, that Woods is a late first-round talent that could turn into a steal if he slips into the second. The tape shows a player with the potential to develop into an excellent No. 2. At 6003 and 201 pounds, he has the burst to separate underneath and produce after the catch. While he doesn’t have the second gear to run by NFL corners, he ran a respectable 4.51 at the Combine and he’s fast enough to challenge downfield in certain matchups. In terms of what he needs to work on, he can catch the ball a little more consistently and it’s important that he get stronger so physical corners can’t reroute him. There are big-picture concerns worth mentioning as well. His numbers dipped considerably last year and that kind of drop in production can raise red flags with front offices. It’s important not to make too much of it in this case. Yes, WR Marqise Lee eclipsed Woods as the focal point of the passing attack but that doesn’t mean that Woods’ play dropped off. Lee may have been the first receiver off the board this year if he were eligible and Southern Cal’s play-calling appeared to reflect its desire to feature the talented true sophomore. A bigger concern are reports about the consistency of his work ethic and whether or not teams can trust him to do what it takes to realize his upside. Teams that don’t have strong leadership in place may shy away with that in mind.”

Every Thursday on ESPNBoston.com, there is a Patriots chat in the early afternoon. Today's chat is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET, and questions can be asked in advance.

Catch up then.

With the NFL draft closing in, ESPNBoston.com is narrowing its list of prospects that it projects as the best fits for the Patriots at areas that seem likely the club could target:

Player: Justin Hunter

School: Tennessee

Position: Receiver

Listed height/weight: 6-foot-4, 196 pounds

Scouts Inc. rank: 3rd (scouting report)

Draft projection: Late first round/early second round

Why he’s on our list: Hunter has a high upside to develop as a potential No. 1 receiver. He’s one of the bigger receivers in the draft, and also runs well.

Recommended link: Greg Cosell of NFL Matchup, writing on Yahoo! Sports, describes why Hunter is his most intriguing prospect at the position this year.

Key stat: Averaged 18.5 yards per reception on 17 receptions in 2011, and then finished with 73 catches for a 14.8 average in 2012.

Workout stat: Recorded a vertical leap of 39.5.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “Hunter has the tools to quickly emerge as a vertical threat and it’s just not about his 4.44-speed, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. The 6-foot-4 Hunter has longer arms (33.2-inches), recorded a 39.5-inch vertical at the Combine, and shows impressive body control for his size in the air. In other words, he’s more than capable of winning 50-50 balls downfield when he isn’t able to get behind the coverage. While physical corners will likely have success rerouting him at the line of scrimmage at this point, he can bulk up his 196-pound frame and improve his ability to beat press coverage. There’s a lot to like about his burst, vision and ability after the catch as well. In terms of his route-running, there’s room for improvement. He has the fluidity and quickness to improve but his footwork is inconsistent and he rounds off too many breaks at this point. In terms of how he catches the ball, he can pluck the ball out of the air and make highlight reel grabs. It’s what should be routine catches that can give him problems and he dropped too many passes in 2012. Erratic focus and just average hand span (9.3) played roles. His toughness and willingness to make plays over the middle is also inconsistent and he can take his eye off the ball to locate defenders. Finally, there are two other red flags worth mentioning. The first concerns production. Three of his nine touchdowns came against Georgia State and another three came against Troy. He wasn’t nearly as consistent or productive against the talented defensive backfields he faced in the Georgia, Mississippi State and Alabama games. The second is durability. He tore the ACL in his left knee in the third game (Florida State) of the season and missed the rest of the year.”

Mike Mayock, the draft expert for NFL Network, has unveiled his first and only mock draft leading up to Thursday night. Waiting until the eve of the draft allows Mayock to account for free agency, pro days, the combine, and other events that may alter prospects' value.

With the 29th pick in the draft, Mayock pegs the Patriots to take Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Writes Mayock: They're ecstatic that Xavier Rhodes falls all the way to No. 29. He's 6-0, 210 pounds with long arms; he's the ultimate press corner. I think that this kid can develop off-man skills. I think he understands zone concepts and again, he fits what today's NFL is.

Cornerback is among the team's top needs in the eye of many draft prognosticators, and some consider Rhodes the second best prospect at the position. He's the third of four first-round cornerbacks to come off the board in Mayock's projection, behind only Dee Milliner of Alabama and D.J. Hayden of Houston.

Other top needs for the Patriots include wide receiver and defensive line depth. A trade back in the order to acquire more picks also seems feasible, as the Patriots have only five selections entering the draft.

To see Mayock's projection in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- There are some uniform numbers that carry more significance than others in New England. Kevin Faulk's No. 33, which he wore for 13 seasons, is part of that group.

Running back Leon Washington, speaking to students at North Attleboro Middle School on Wednesday, announced that he will wear Faulk's old number this season for the Patriots, with Faulk's blessing.

"Obviously I'm grateful for Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick giving me an opportunity to wear that number," Washington said. "I understand the history behind that number."

Washington, who signed a one-year deal with the Patriots on March 14, said he spoke to Faulk recently about donning No. 33, which was not assigned to any player following Faulk's retirement last October.

"He's a guy that, not only on the football field, did things so well in the locker room with the guys. You hear the stories," Washington said. "I just want to represent (the number) the best way that I can."

The Patriots faced a similar situation in recent seasons, when former linebacker Tedy Bruschi's No. 54 was assigned to veteran guard Brian Waters (in 2011) and rookie linebacker Dont'a Hightower (in 2012). The team has not held a ceremony to retire a number since honoring Bruce Armstrong (No. 78) in 2001.

"When it comes down it, (it's about) playing football and not focusing on the number on my back," Washington said. "Just trying to go out there and make plays and hopefully that takes care of itself."

The 30-year old Washington was at the school to congratulate students on their fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association, which have totaled over $700,000 over the past 15 years.

"I can relate to (the cause) because I was right there with (his father-in-law) when he had a stroke," Washington said. "It's something dear to me. It's always important to give back."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Film work is a significant part of the Patriots’ offseason program, and as four-year veteran Devin McCourty continues to evolve as a potential long-term fit at safety, he has eyed two of the NFL’s best.

“Watching a guy like Ed Reed, he’s able to do so many different things back there. Jairus Byrd, in Buffalo, since he’s in our division you see a lot of him and he also makes a lot of big plays back there,” McCourty relayed. “I look at those guys as far as just seeing their playmaking ability. A guy like Ed Reed, I always watch and try to see what he’s thinking and what he sees out there. Any time you can watch good football players it will help you.”

McCourty said that type of film work is a big part of players’ daily routine at this time of year. The work also includes watching the Patriots’ own secondary, often times in a light-hearted meeting room.

“We have a bunch of guys that get along and have fun with each other. Once we get past all the cracking jokes and all that stuff, we learn a lot,” he said. “Our coaches really harp on watching film. It helps us know where different guys are going to be, how to play together. You can do so much in that film room and we have a lot of guys who are smart football players and put in the work.”

As for McCourty, who likely will play safety for the Patriots in 2013, he isn’t closing the door on contributing at cornerback, where he earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie in 2010.

“The last two seasons, I’ve played both positions. I don’t think it would be fair to myself or the team to come in here and only look at one thing,” he said. “It’s coming into the offseason, being a leader, and being able to get better at two positions just in case. You just never know. One thing I’ve learned in this league is that guys go down and you don’t have the luxury or having 60-70 players. You only have what you have, and guys have to be able to move around. I’m going to always be prepared.”

Bob Socci has been named the radio play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots on 98.5 The Sports Hub, the official flagship radio station of the team.

The hiring of Socci, who replaces the legendary Gil Santos, was announced by the station today. He will be paired with analyst Scott Zolak.

"Bob has more than 16 years of play-by-play experience," said Mike Thomas, Vice President of Programming for CBS Radio Boston, in a statement. "We were impressed with his extensive work and expertise calling various football and baseball games, and he's a local guy with great knowledge of the Patriots. No doubt, Bob has big shoes to fill, but we are excited about this new era of play-by-play with Bob and Scott."

For the past 16 years, Socci has called radio play-by-play for Navy football. He is also the lead announcer for CBS Sports Network's coverage of Patriot League college basketball.

Socci is a resident of Milton, Mass.

"This is the thrill of a lifetime to get the opportunity from 98.5 The Sports Hub and the Patriots organization to continue the tradition established by the legendary Gil Santos to be the play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots," Socci said in a statement. "I look forward to teaming up with Scott in the booth and building on The Sports Hub's great success."

With the NFL draft just a day away, the P.A.T. makes an offseason cameo appearance to discuss the Patriots' needs heading into Thursday's first round. In addition to answering your questions (will the Pats trade down?), ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss makes a first-round prediction and catches up with cornerback Devin McCourty.

Following the lead of teammate Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Stevan Ridley recently visited some hospitalized victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Here are some photos tweeted by Ridley:

Boston's Strongest!! Y'all keep fighting and we'll keep praying!! @robgronkowski twitter.com/StevanRidley/s…

— Stevan Ridley (@StevanRidley) April 23, 2013

The Patriots have the following draft picks in 2013:

1. 29th overall
2. 59th overall
3. 91st overall
7a. 226th overall
7b. 235th overall

Highlighting some of the recent players picked in the 91st spot:

2012: OT Lamar Holmes (Falcons)
2011: LB Akeem Dent (Falcons)
2010: LB NaVorro Bowman (49ers)
2009: WR Deon Butler (Seahawks)
2008: TE Jermichael Finley (Packers)
2007: OT Mario Henderson (Raiders)
2006: DE Frostee Rucker (Bengals)
2005: OT Chris Colmer (Buccaneers)
2004: DL Anthony Hargrove (Rams)
2003: TE Visanthe Shiancoe (Giants)
2002: RB Brian Westbrook (Eagles)
1999: S Tony George (Patriots)
1997: DE/LB Mike Vrabel (Steelers)

ANALYSIS: The hope is to land a starter at this point, but as the results have shown, it's a mixed bag. The best player in the group is LB NaVorro Bowman, who was a steal at 91 and dropped likely because he was considered to be undersized (6-foot-0, 242 pounds) when coming out of Penn State. That's a good snapshot of the 91st pick -- any player still on the board is going to have something that led to him slipping to this point, but teams will look for special traits that could help them overcome it. TE Jermichael Finley is another example of this; no one was questioning his athleticism, but he didn't have much experience after entering the draft after his third-year sophomore season. The most recent 91st pick, OT Lamar Holmes, is a candidate to start at right tackle for the Falcons following the release of veteran Tyson Clabo.