FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few quick thoughts on the New England Patriots' sixth-round pick.
The pick: Matthew Wells, linebacker, Mississippi State (178th overall)
My take: At 6-foot-1¾ and 222 pounds, Wells projects to an off-the-line position in the team's scheme as well as a possible core special-teams role. He reportedly ran 4.44 and 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, so speed seems to be one of his best assets. At this point in the draft, the Patriots are generally looking for players with a specific standout trait, and Wells' speed and potential coverage ability could be what caught the team's attention. At Mississippi State, Wells played in 52 games (33 starts) and graduated in December. He is legally blind in one eye, according to ESPN's scouting report.
Competition at backup linebacker spot: The Patriots have a rock-solid top of the depth chart at their off-the-line linebacker position with Jerod Mayo, Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins, but the bunch of players behind them doesn't have much defensive experience. Wells joins that mix, which includes Darius Fleming, Jonathan Freeny, Chris White, Eric Martin, Cameron Gordon, James Morris and Deontae Skinner. That will be a good under-the-radar competition to watch as the Patriots had aggressively pursued signing a few veteran free agents with more experience on defense, but those players signed elsewhere.
