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Meet the Patriots’ 2014 draft picks

Jason DeCrow/AP

A look at the players chosen by the Patriots in the NFL Draft:

AP

Dominique Easley

Position: Defensive lineman

Height: 6-2; Weight: 288

Selection: First round, 29th overall

College: Florida

Strengths: Explosive edge rusher . . . Work ethic lauded . . . Doesn’t give up on plays . . . Great swim move on the rush . . . Played inside at tackle and outside on the edge at Florida.

Weaknesses: Considered a second selection by draft experts . . . Tore his right knee three games in last season just two years after tearing his left knee ... Lack of bulk seen as a weakness to play inside in the NFL . . . Will over-run plays because of aggressiveness.

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Bill Belichick quote: “I think he’s a very disruptive player and he showed up against good competition.”

Jason DeCrow/AP

Jimmy Garoppolo

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-2; Weight: 226

Selection: Second round, 62d overall

College: Eastern Illinois

Strengths: Lightning-quick release and a good decision-maker . . . MVP of East-West Shrine Game . . . Walter Payton Award winner (top player in FCS, the old Division I-AA) . . . Will dump off ball instead of taking sack . . . Highly competitive, team leader . . . Durable, four-year starter . . . Has physical tools to play in NFL.

Weaknesses: A bit undersized at 6-2 . . . Small hands, short arms (according to NFL.com) . . . Tends to hang the deep ball . . . Played in Ohio Valley Conference.

Bill Belichick quote: “At quarterback, I think that we felt as an organization that we needed to address that to some degree in the future. So we’ll see how all that works out but I think you’re better off being early than late at that position.”

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Bryan Stork

Position: Center

Height: 6-4; Weight: 315

Selection: Fourth round, 105th overall

College: Florida State

Strengths: Starting center for the national champion Seminoles, and the trigger man for the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense . . . Won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center and was a first-team All-American.

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Weaknesses: Not an explosive blocker; often plays too tall . . . Collegiate success was boosted by abundance of talent surrounding him on line . . . Received medical exclusion from scouting combine (knee, both shoulders).

Bill Belichick quote: “Physically, he has a pretty good skill set: he’s strong, he can run. You can see him get out in front on screens and perimeter plays.”

David Stluka

James White

Position: Running back

Height: 5-9; Weight: 204

Selection: Fourth round, 130th overall

College: Wisconsin

Strengths: Part of the Badgers’ stable of strong backs, he averaged more than 1,000 yards rushing over his four seasons while logging 6.2 yards per tote . . . His 670 career receiving yards is a Wisconsin record for RBs . . . Number of fumbles in college: two.

Weaknesses: Not considered a plowhorse or three-down back; more of a change-of-pace type . . . Saw his kick-return role decrease to the point he had just one runback last season.

Bill Belichick quote: “He’s a guy that has shown he has four-down value. He’s been productive in the kicking game, he’s been productive catching the ball. He has a high average per carry. He can run inside. He can run outside. He makes good space plays and he can get some tough yards.”

ISIPhotos.com

Cameron Fleming

Position: Offensive tackle

Height: 6-5; Weight: 323

Selection: Fourth round, 140th overall

College: Stanford

Strengths: Started 28 games at right tackle over his last two seasons . . . Part of a line that allowed just 1.14 sacks per game in 2013, 11th best in nation . . . All-Pac-12 second team as a senior . . . Graduated with a degree in aeronautics and astronautics.

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Weaknesses: Size can work against him against faster edge rushers . . . Effectiveness decreases on the second level . . . Attractive pedigree, but is he too nice?

Bill Belichick quote: “It felt like good value there.”

AP/Associated Press

Jon Halapio

Position: Guard

Height: 6-3; Weight: 323

Selection: Sixth round, 179th overall

College: Florida

Strengths: Team captain as a senior . . . Tough to beat in one-on-one matchups in the trenches . . . Hands measure 10¼ inches . . . Missed just two games in 2013 despite suffering a pectoral tear during summer workouts.

Weaknesses: Battled through myriad injuries throughout his time in Gainesville . . . Will need work to expand his role beyond right guard . . . Tied for the lowest vertical jump (21½ inches) of any offensive lineman at scouting combine.

Bill Belichick quote: “Halapio has been a real good player at Florida, so we were probably a little surprised to see him where he was.”

AP/Associated Press

Zach Moore

Position: Defensive end

Height: 6-5; Weight: 269

Selection: Sixth round, 198th overall

College: Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)

Strengths: The first player from Concordia to be drafted, and the first player drafted from the Northern Sun Conference since 1992 (also by the Patriots, WR Wayne Hawkins of Southwest Minnesota State) . . . A two-time team captain and two-time Division 2 All-American.

Weaknesses: Will have to prove himself as a Division 2 product, from a sub-.500 team no less . . . Still a raw talent despite his 33 career sacks.

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Bill Belichick quote: “Zach has a real interesting skillset to develop and I think he will develop.”

G.M. Andrews/AP

Jemea Thomas

Position: Safety

Height: 5-9; Weight: 192

Selection: Sixth round, 206th overall

College: Georgia Tech

Strengths: Hard-hitting safety who also has starting experience at cornerback . . . Well-rounded defender who led the Yellow Jackets in INTs in 2012 and then in tackles in 2013 . . . Could be an immediate help on special teams.

Weaknesses: Lacks the size to match up with taller receivers and tight ends . . . Seems to have played to his ceiling in college . . . Strained a back muscle while bench pressing at the scouting combine.

Bill Belichick quote: “I think he has some versatility, he’s smart, he runs well, he’s a tough kid, he’s a good tackler.”

Courtesy of the University of Michigan

Jeremy Gallon Position: Wide receiver

Height: 5-7; Weight: 185

Selection: Seventh round, 244th overall

College: Michigan

Strengths: Led Wolverines in receiving two years running, with program-record 1,373 yards in 2013 . . . Set a Big Ten record with 369 receiving yards (on 14 catches) against Indiana Oct. 19 . . . Noted for his ability to find seams in zone coverage.

Weaknesses: Must compensate for small stature and moderate speed . . . Not a downfield threat . . . Will need to prove himself as a return man in camp to earn a roster spot.

Bill Belichick quote: “He’s an explosive guy. He’s good with the ball in his hands, good after the catch, he can make people miss. Has real good quickness.”

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