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