By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff

If Bill Belichick's drafting of three of Greg Schiano's former Rutgers players and signing a fourth as an undrafted rookie weren't proof enough of the respect the two have for each other, here's another example:

Members of Schiano's Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff will travel to Gillette Stadium next week to meet with Belichick and members of his staff.

According to Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, the two sides will talk about coaching topics and techniques.

Banks writes of the visit:

Though a Bucs official declined to comment on Schiano and part of his staff visiting New England, a league source characterized the session as one in which the Tampa contingent would learn from Belichick and his staff some scheduling details. The two parties will discuss how the Patriots set up their calendar, how to best approach and organize the preseason, deal with the bye-week schedule and organize various practice schedules. In other words, they're talking about the logistics of running a team, rather than any in-depth discussion of X's and O's.

The meeting is not against NFL rules, but it would seem unorthodox, particularly since the Patriots and Buccaneers will face one another in Week 3 of the regular season and Week 2 of the preseason.

Belichick has done something similar at least one other time in his Patriots tenure, so this is not unprecedented.

Belichick recommended Schiano to the Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers, last year when they were searching for a head coach to replace Raheem Morris. Next week's meeting could help Schiano keep the job for as long as possible.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots rookies and undrafted free agents got their first taste of the Gillette Stadium field Friday, walking out with eyes wide and grins wider. They were greeted by a throng of reporters on their first full day as members of the team.

"I'm just happy for the opportunity," said Armond Armstead, the defensive lineman who last played in the Canadian Football League. "Just glad they gave me the opportunity to play in the NFL. And I'm just going to approach it every day and work hard and take advantage of the opportunities I'm given."

That sentiment was shared by his new teammates.

The Patriots brought in 19 rookie free agents Friday and five more players who were not under contract to join the draft picks for rookie minicamp. For those selected in the draft, even the seventh-rounders, that means the competition will be high.

"It's a great opportunity," said defensive lineman Michael Buchanan, who was drafted 226th overall. "I think it provides a lot of competition and I think it forces everybody to work hard and take every day seriously."

When undrafted cornerback Brandon Jones was signed, he became the fourth rookie from Rutgers on the team. Fellow rookie Duron Harmon, his former teammate at Rutgers, believes Jones can make the team.

"He told me, 'I'm coming up there with ya'll,' " Harmon said. "I was excited. I was like, 'You know what you can do. Basically come up, play hard, and if everything goes right, you're gonna be on the team.' Because he's a good player and he works hard.

"I'm excited for him. I know he has a chance to make the squad. That's why coach [Bill] Belichick brought him up. He didn't bring him up just for a body. He brought him up because he knows he has a chance to make the squad."

Not only are Jones, Harmon, Logan Ryan, and Steve Beauharnais all Rutgers players, they're all Labor Studies majors. It's difficult to stop connecting the four together.

"I mean, you can talk about it," Harmon said. "It is what it is. Man, we're all very close. We're basically like the same people. You could say we're all brothers and we all do the same things. These are really my brothers. I would do anything for these guys. I love 'em to death. I love 'em like they came out of my own mother's womb."

Ryan asserted as much.

"I'm sure you will," Ryan said. "But we're going to keep it real simple with you. I don't think we're here by coincidence. I feel like we're all talented players. And we're just trying to get adjusted. We prepare and work very hard.

"Speaking for myself, I'm just trying to get myself adjusted as quickly as possible and make sure I become a Patriot for a very long time."

Beauharnais, an inside linebacker, will have to focus on classwork after the weekend of rookie activities. He was doing geography work and writing an essay on the culture of New Jersey when he got word he was drafted by the Patriots.He still has finals to take.

"I just focus on the task at hand," Beauharnais said. "Right now I'm here, I'm learning as much as I can, absorbing it like a sponge, just doing the best I can here. When I go back home, I probably have to switch gears to go back to the classroom."

For all of the new players, this weekend marks the shift to becoming a professional.

"The celebration stopped Saturday when I got to see a whole bunch of my friends get an opportunity," Ryan said. "A whole bunch of my friends got an opportunity along with me. And then I sent a text out to those guys and said, 'It's time to work.' And we kind of got over it, and Monday we were back to work."

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

FOXBOROUGH -- This is the beginning for the 2013 rookie class. And right now, it's all about baby steps.

The Patriots are hosting 28 rookies and first-year players under contract, as well as a handful of other rookies and veterans who are working out for the team as part of rookie minicamp. That group includes Canadian Football League signees Armond Armstead and Jason Vega, who have been at Gillette Stadium the past two weeks. But before the team implements the full breadth of its playbook, let alone discuss concepts, they'll address the logistics of moving to New England and becoming professional athletes.

"Obviously we have a lot of information to give them in every area of football and all of the transitioning it takes to become a professional athlete and most cases for guys moving to this part of the country," Belichick said. "We have a lot of ground to cover but I think it's a group that seems attentive and eager. Like a lot of groups at this time of year, this group of guys is a pretty similar group to ones we've had in the past. So we'll just take it day by day."

The Patriots signed 19 rookie free agents on Friday, giving Belichick 90 bodies to work with in training camp. But the veteran coach noted that other small moves would be made to ensure the team can practice efficiently.

Also of note:

- The new Patriots selected their numbers last night. Second round pick Jamie Collins -- the Patriots' first pick of the 2013 draft -- will wear No. 91. Wide receiver Aaron Dobson will wear No. 17 while Josh Boyce will wear No. 82.

The other numbers for draft picks: Logan Ryan (26), Duron Harmon (30), Michael Buchanan (99), and Steve Beauharnais (45).

Rookie free agent signing T.J. Moe will wear No. 84, Deion Branch's old number. Kenbrell Thompkins, a rookie free agent receiver from Cincinnati, will wear No. 85, Brandon Lloyd's old number.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

The Patriots announced the signing of 19 rookie free agents, bringing the team's roster to a full 90 players.

Among the players signed:

Ryan Allen, P, Louisiana Tech
Ben Bartholomew, FB, Tennessee
Dewayne Cherrington, DL, Mississippi St.
Kannorris Davis, S, Troy
Elvis Fisher, OL, Missouri
Brandon Ford, TE, Clemson
Cory Grissom, DL, South Florida
Quentin Hines, RB, Akron
Brandon Jones, CB, Rutgers
Josh Kline, OL, Kent State
Chris McDonald, OL, Michigan St.
TJ Moe, WR, Missouri
Stephon Morris, CB, Penn State
Ian Sluss, LB, Portland State
Matt Stankiewitch, OL, Penn State
Zach Sudfield, TE, Nevada
Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, Cincinnati
Joe Vellano, DL, Maryland
Mike Zupancic, LS, Eastern Michigan

Justin Francis, No. 94, was able to help the Patriots as an undrafted rookie last season. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

When the NFL draft concludes, the Patriots arguably do some of their best work of the offseason.

After South Carolina tight end Justice Cunningham was selected with the final pick of the 2013 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts -- ergo dubbed Mr. Irrelevant -- the Patriots wasted no time burning up the phones looking to sign rookie free agents and fill out the team’s 90-man roster allotment. The process of signing and securing rookie free agents has been a particularly fruitful endeavor. New England is one of the few teams in the league with a strong track record of identifying those who are talented and yet overlooked -- and then developing them into role players.

Before this class of rookie free agents was added to the pool, the Patriots roster included 10 players who came to the team undrafted or as first-year free agents. That includes quality contributors in the last two years like defensive lineman Justin Francis and running back Brandon Bolden, and more seasoned veterans like offensive lineman Ryan Wendell, linebacker Dane Fletcher and defensive tackle Kyle Love. But there’s been plenty more that have worked out well for the team in spurts (Sterling Moore) and have moved on. And there are others (i.e. Kyle Arrington) who somehow made their way to the Patriots and have found themselves to be a valuable addition.

“I think that’s been an important part of our team through the years,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said last week. “Once again, last year we had several players either make our team or make our practice squad or in a couple cases, some combination of both. Maybe they were on one or the other for part of the year, but other guys came in that weren’t drafted and contributed to our team, like [Marcus] Forston, like [Brandon] Bolden, Justin Francis and other guys like that in the past – the Brian Hoyers and the Mike Wrights, you can go right on down the list. So that’s still an important time in the team building process.”

By Anthony Gulizia, Globe Correspondent

FOXBOROUGH – Growing up in Mississippi, Jamie Collins had a rather generalized view of the people in New England.

As Patriots owner Robert Kraft tells it, “Coming from Southern Mississippi, he said, ‘I know those people up in New England are bankers.' "

On Thursday at Gillette Stadium, the big defensive end donned what Kraft deemed "his best banker's suit" and was presented with a No. 1 Patriots jersey as the team’s first pick in the NFL draft.

“It’s our pleasure to introduce Jamie Collins,” Kraft said. “We want to welcome him to New England and we’re excited to start off the season.”

Last Thursday, the Patriots traded their first-round pick (29th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for four later picks, one of which was the 52d overall pick (the 20th in the second round), which they used on Collins.

“For us, this was a nondescript draft class,” Kraft said. “There were no big names, no big schools, no career records. But we hope it parallels a couple past successful drafts, where we had two tight ends in 2010 [Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez], and in 2011 we had two halfbacks with [Stevan] Ridley and [Shane] Vereen.

“It’s a pretty exciting time for us because doing this today really means the start of the new season.”

Kraft said the Patriots were particularly drawn to Collins because of his mental toughness and character.

“Here’s a young man who lost both his parents by the time he was 6,” Kraft said of the 23-year-old Collins. “He’s just a very wonderful and charming young man to talk to.

"He’s had a certain resiliency a lot of young people don’t have and see, and I think he’s really appreciative of the opportunity he has to be here.”

Just a year ago, another defensive end, Chandler Jones, was standing where Collins stood. The Patriots selected the 6-5 Jones out of Syracuse with the 21st overall pick.

Jones, who had 45 tackles and six sacks in his rookie campaign, is excited to work with Collins.

“I just met Jamie two seconds ago and said, ‘Good luck.’ He’s a cool guy,” Jones said. “Every question that he has, or whatever difficulty I had, I’m going to definitely share it with him.

“After we picked him, I looked him up on YouTube, and he looks like a very phenomenal player. I’m excited to be out here with him and we’ll see him in August.”

Jones said his advice to Collins will be to maintain consistency.

“That’s one thing I had to adapt to coming from college,” Jones said. “There’ll be times when you have a good day at practice, and you’ll be blah the next day.

"So just being consistent, coming out and doing your job every time, just to prove to those coaches that you can play in the NFL, so put me on the field.”

Jones is looking forward to working with Collins and is eager to get back on the field after last season’s 28-13 loss in the AFC Championship game to the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m getting excited,” Jones said. “There really isn’t an offseason.

"Even though you try to unplug from the game and get your mind off of it, you’re always thinking about what you could’ve done that play or that game.

"Physically, there’s definitely a resting factor but mentally, you’re always thinking about football.”

Collins, who will be made available to the media Friday with the rest of the draft picks, got started Thursday at the Patriots rookie-camp, which runs through the weekend. According to Kraft, he will have his work cut out for him, with many starters returning.

“Of course, everyone thinks they had a great draft and improved their team," said Kraft. "None of us know for a few years.

“But when you think about our team, I think we have more returning starters – 22 of our 24 starters are returning -- It’s going to be tough for young people to make this team.

"So I think there will be good spirit, good competition, and it’s such a fun time.”

The Patriots have released offensive lineman Brian Waters, according to the NFL transaction wire Tuesday.

Signed to a two-year contract after the lockout in 2011, Waters played at a very high level that year, though he was at right guard for the first time in his career. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl.

Married with five children, Waters typically did not take part in the offseason program when he played for Kansas City, opting to spend as much time as possible with his family. It was the same in New England – when the Patriots began their OTAs and mandatory minicamp last offseason, coach Bill Belichick said that Waters was excused from participating.

But when training camp started, Waters still did not report to the team. The Patriots placed him on the reserve/did not report list, though they tried to entice him to return by offering to increase his salary from $2.5 million for 2012 to $4 million.

The first sign that the Patriots were fed up with Waters's behavior came on the eve of the regular season when the team gave then-rookie Dont'a Hightower jersey No. 54, which Waters had worn the season before. A few days later, Waters's nameplate was removed from his locker.

Without Waters, the Patriots had to change their plans for the offensive line last year. Dan Connolly, who was likely to have been the starting center, was moved to right guard and Ryan Wendell became the starting center.

Though Waters might have played for a team in Texas, close to his home and his family, the Patriots refused to release Waters from his contract. Since he spent the entire season on the reserve/did not report list, his contract tolled, and he remained under contract with the Patriots for 2013.

At the NFL Players Association's annual meeting at the Super Bowl in February, Waters was approached about giving his side of the story, but he declined to comment. He was not in game shape.

So his time with New England, which started off so well, has ended with a single line on the league transaction wire.

By Craig Larson, Globe Staff

Nick Halloran noticed two missed calls on his phone early Tuesday morning. The 24-year-old is in the midst of finals for three graduate courses at Bentley this week, so he gets a pass for not picking up.

At 8:30, his agent, Sean Stellato, checked in again, with quite the wakeup call.

A three-year starter at tackle after his transfer from Boston College, Halloran has been invited to the Patriots' rookie minicamp that will kick off Friday in Foxborough.

"Just amazing news, not a better way to start the day," said the 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound Somerville native, who prepped at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols.

A two-time Northeast-10 Conference first team pick for the the Falcons, Halloran started his first two seasons at right tackle, protecting the blind side for lefthanded quarterback Bryant Johnson, and then shifted over to the left side last fall with Danny Guadagnoli directing the Falcons' spread attack.

"We wanted him protecting the blindside, because in my opinion, he was the best offensive lineman in the league," said Bentley coach Thom Boerman.

"When he transferred from BC, it was a lucky day for us. And when he first came here, we told him that a pro career was still within his reach. He came to us with a pretty good skill set. His size alone stands out, and physically, he is a pretty strong kid. He was just dominant in our league."

Halloran undoubtedly made a favorable impressive at the Harvard Pro Day, March 14, where he worked out under the watchful eye of Patriots offensive line/assistant head coach Dante Scarnecchia. Only two other linemen were in attendance, guards John Collins (Roxbury Latin/Harvard) and Ryan Moores (Governor's Academy/Middlebury), who has been invited to the Falcons' rookie camp.

With Halloran the anchor up front, Bentley averaged 388 yards and 26.3 points per game in an 8-2 season in 2012, while controlling the ball for 33 minutes.

"When we needed an inch, or a yard, we went over Nick," said Bentley line coach Rob Velasquez, who believes Halloran's future is at guard, where he got his indoctrination to the college game at Boston College.

That would follow the path of former Bentley lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau, who started every game for the Cowboys in 2012, his fifth year in the league after originally being a seventh-round pick by the Panthers. Halloran also has touched base with a pair of his former teammates at BC now suiting up with the Colts, tackles Gosder Cherilus and Anthony Castonzo.

Halloran and Cherilus worked out together this winter at Mike Boyle's strength & conditioning training center in Woburn. "Gosder and I talked about technique, and just having a 'get after it attitude.' He was very helpful."

Velasquez said that Halloran nearly broke down and cried when they spoke Tuesday morning. "He said, 'This is my shot,' " said the coach.

The Patriots did not select an offensive lineman in the draft, but they reportedly have also agreed to deals with guard/tackle Josh Kline (Kent State) and center Matt Stankiewitch (Penn State).

The Patriots have not officially announced their rookie free agents, but reportedly
New Haven QB Ryan Osiecki, who owns nearly every Charger passing record, including TDs (91) and yards (9.572), has been invited to rookie camp on a tryout basis.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Two days after the NFL draft, the Patriots weren't done making roster decisions, as they released five players Monday afternoon.

Gone are wide receiver Jeremy Ebert, fullback Tony Fiammetta, tight end Brad Herman, defensive lineman Tracy Robertson, and defensive back Malcolm Williams.

Fiammetta was on the exempt/reserve list for the 2012 season after signing with the team as a free agent. Ebert and Williams were both seventh-round draft picks. Herman was a rookie free agent signing, while Robertson was on the practice squad.

None of the five was in serious contention for a roster spot.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

If there was one underlying theme for the Patriots in this draft -- as for all teams that were not in dire need -- it was to boost the roster's weak spots and provide depth throughout the team in case of injury.

For the Patriots, that meant overhauling their receiving corps and addressing their coverage issues in the secondary and at linebacker.

In that goal, Bill Belichick achieved what he set out to do on Day 2, grabbing Marshall's Aaron Dobson as well as Rutgers defensive backs Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon.

On Day 3, he upped the competition.

The team added TCU wide receiver Josh Boyce and projected 3-4 defensive end Michael Buchanan from Illinois, along with Rutgers middle linebacker Steve Beauharnais.

Then he traded for LeGarrette Blount, giving him a big back who can be a change of pace should Brandon Bolden not work out.

Not one of these guys -- save for Blount -- should be expected to contribute to the team in 2013. But that's not the point, is it? The Patriots are building up the roster with multiple talented players to create the highest possible level of competition in camp. Players like Buchanan and Boyce, who have shown flashes of great talent in college, will get the opportunity to acclimate themselves to the NFL level and push the team's starters in practice. Beauharnais, a solid and productive player in college, will have an opportunity to play behind a talented but often injured force in Brandon Spikes.

The Patriots have addressed a number of what-if scenarios.

-- What if recent signees Michael Jenkins and Donald Jones don't work out? Dobson and Boyce can step in.

-- What if Bolden runs into more trouble? Blount can pick up the slack.

-- What if CFL signee Jason Vega doesn't work out? They have Michael Buchanan to turn to.

And the list goes on.

Depth is important in the NFL because of the vicious nature of the game. At times, it can appear that the team is stockpiling great players it has no intention of utilizing. The team signed rookie free agent T.J. Moe out of Missouri, who is from the Wes Welker mold. But the team already has Welker's clone in Danny Amendola, who also played at Texas Tech. And then there's Julian Edelman, who knows the position better than them all but has had trouble staying healthy.

Again, the more talented players, the more the team pushes and drives itself to do better and be better.

That's the takeaway from the Patriots' third day of the draft. They've cranked up the competition, hoping to sustain the high level of performance the Patriots nation fan base has come to expect.

@zuriberry

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

The end of the 2013 draft means my official duties at the Boston Globe have ended. I start as a senior writer at Sports Illustrated next week.

Just wanted to say a few words, and then I’ll be off.

Thank you to everyone at the Globe, from partners Shalise Manza Young, Mike Whitmer and Monique Jones, to the unheralded editors on the desk, the top-notch Boston.com crew and my supervisors, Joe Sullivan and Scott Thurston. I couldn’t have done the job the way I wanted to unless my colleagues -- especially Shalise -- did theirs well. So thank you. And my editors were terrific. They believed in my vision for the job, and let me execute it. For a guy from Athol who graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury, it was a dream come true to come home and write for the Globe in Will McDonough’s space. And it was everything I hoped it would be.

Thanks to my compradres on the Patriots beat. A lot of good and talented people. Read everybody. And to the top-notch Patriots’ PR staff, and the coaches, personnel staff and players -- they all gave me a me a fair shake to earn their trust.

And thank you to the readers. I received so many great messages on Twitter and email that it left me, truly, speechless. As a journalist, you hope to be accurate, fair and provide some insight. It seems like I was able to accomplish my goals, which is very satisfying. Thank you for reading me with an open mind. I know some of my opinions weren’t popular and were against the tide at times, but I always put forth my honest opinion because I thought you deserved nothing less. You guys are tough, no doubt, but you made me better.

I never really thought about leaving the Globe, but the opportunity presented to me by Peter King and Sports Illustrated was really too good to pass up, both professionally and personally for me and my family. A lot of the details are still being formulated for the site within SI.com, but my role should expand some of the analysis that has been the meat of my Globe duties, and allow me to do more in-depth stories. The new site will launch July 22nd, and you likely won’t see much of my work until then. I will still be based in the Boston area, so I’m sure I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Patriots.

All the best. Don’t be a stranger.

And now his watch has ended....

One more for the road (for both of us): DEMPS SIREN.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

In my opinion, this is where I see the Patriots' depth chart in the aftermath of the draft. I have not included any of the 15 undrafted free agents the Patriots can sign. Patriots currently have 75 players on the roster, including the seven draft picks.

Players in red are free agents or trades. Draft picks are highlighted in yellow.

Much of my reasoning is the subject of tomorrow's column. We'll follow with a few superlatives for kicks.

Here are a few bonus superlatives:

Most likely to make an instant impact: Aaron Dobson, WR (second round)

The more I watched of him, the more I liked him, if not loved him. He's everything you want in an X vertical receiver. If he's as smart as the Patriots think he is, then he should have no trouble grabbing the starting spot where the Patriots have few other options and desperately need an impact player to make this offense a nightmare to defend.

Biggest bust potential: Jamie Collins, LB/DE (second round)

Sorry, I just don't see it on film. He's an OK player but I see way too much of Jermaine Cunningham in him. Can dazzle with athletic ability, but how good of a football player is he? Has two pass-rush moves: speed and power. That's it. No spin moves. No rips. Just straight ahead. Has some of the stiffest hips I've seen. Now, the x-factor is how the Patriots view him. If they think he's a standup linebacker, that makes a little more sense. But that would have to come from private workouts because he's played the same hybrid role the Patriots use for their ends.

Biggest upside: Michael Buchanan, DE/LB (seventh round)

The guy has a freak frame and athletic ability. If he can grow into his body and mature a little bit, the Patriots could have something big here. A lot of ifs, but definitely a huge upside to a player out of a good conference.

Longest career: Logan Ryan, CB (third round)

Just a rock, solid good football player. Not reliant on his speed so he'll still be able to play when that starts to go because he just knows how to play. Also has safety versatility to that may help extend his career.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick reflected on the NFL draft. Here are his comments in full.

Opening statement:

BB: It's been kind of a long day here. It started off with Josh [Boyce] in the fourth round. Josh had a good career at TCU. Really top kid, strong, tough, fast. He’s had good production down there. We had him as a receiver there at the top of the round then we had quite a bit of time on our hands. During that time, we ended up working out the deal with Tampa for LeGarrette [Blount] and we're excited to have him here. I think he’s a good football player. He’s had a lot of production. I think he got into a situation last year where they obviously went with [Doug] Martin, but I think this guy is a good football player, we’re happy to add him to our team. And then we took [Michael] Buchanan from Illinois. He’s had a good, productive career at Illinois. He’s played with a lot of good pass rushers up there. He’s had production every year in a good conference, a steady player. And finally of course, Steve Beauharnais, who’s been a middle linebacker at Rutgers – another real productive guy, a real smart, football guy. We’re battling away on the free agents – a lot of those guys out there. Of course it’s kind of fast and furious with the post-draft signings, with all 32 teams trying to go after a lot of the same guys. We’ll see how that plays out, but we’re slugging it out there. Hopefully by Monday we’ll be able to get back to normal, get them in here next weekend and start rolling in rookie minicamp and have a good month, month and a half of catching everybody up and start putting the team together on the field. Instead of just a bunch of names on the board, we’ll actually see how it looks out there on the football field doing football. [I’m ] looking forward to that too.

In the NFL Network interview, you talked about a re-do at the wide receiver position, with the two guys you drafted and Danny Amendola coming in. How rare is a potential wholesale change?

BB: I don’t know, but look at the guys who have caught balls at that position and we don’t have a lot of them on our team. [Julian] Edelman and then a couple balls here and there, so we’ll see how it all comes together. I don’t know.

New Patriots linebacker Steve Beauharnais, who was drafted No. 235 overall in the seventh round fo the NFL draft, spoke to the media via conference call Saturday. These are his full comments.

Did you Rutgers guys all get together and have a huge party?

SB: No, but it is a great opportunity to be drafted by the Patriots.

What were you doing when you got the phone call?

SB: I’m actually doing class work, I’m still in school so I’m doing class work right now.

So you weren’t watching the draft?

SB: No, I wasn’t watching but I had it on the speaker in the other room. I was aware of everything that was going on.

New Patriots defensive lineman Michael Buchanan spoke to the media shortly after being drafted 226th overall on Saturday. Here are his comments in full.

How are you feeling?

MB: It's a great feeling. It's a great feeling. This was a childhood dream of mine with an organization I always wanted to be with, so it's definitely a great feeling. It's truly a blessing.

Where were you today? What did you spend the day doing?

MB: I was with my family. My whole family was with me. I’m still with them right now. They’re excited for me. I’m excited. I’m just at home with my family.

What do you think of coming to an organization that has some players you know?

MB: It's great. It’s great to be able to come in and kind of have some guys that I know and already feel like brothers to me. I’m at an advantage to have that, as far as me getting acclimated and everything and being in a new organization. It's definitely a great feeling.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

FOXBOROUGH -- Some nuggets and thoughts on the Patriots' final two picks in the 2013 draft:

Michael Buchanan, DE/OLB, Illinois

6-5 3/8, 255 pounds, 4.78 in 40

• 34-inch arms, 9 7/8-inch hands, 22 bench, 33 vertical, 6.91 three-cone (outstanding)


• Obviously a very long frame with some versatility. Has played with his hand on the ground and standing up.


• Has some pass rush skills that need some development. Tremendous foot speed for his size.


• Needs to work on his strength to hold the point of attack against the run.


• Weighed only 247 at his pro day after 255 at the combine. Some concern that he won't be able to gain weight.


• Had some issues off the field, with a DUI arrest and an altercation that led to his jaw being broken.

What the "experts" are saying:

OurLads scouting: "Project to an outside 3-4 linebacker who can drop into coverage. ... An active player who can slip a block, burst to the quarterback, and get his hands up in the throwing lane. Moved around the defense to take advantage of matchups. Needs more core strength. Fifth/sixth round."

Pro Football Weekly: "Positives: Long-limbed, athletic body with a projectable frame and room for increased bulk. Highly athletic. Long first two steps. Nice bend, body control, flexibility. Can turn the corner and shows good closing burst to QB. Plays hard. Negatives: Underdeveloped frame -- lacks ideal bulk. Not a creative pass rusher with a plan. Can be run at. Flashes too infrequently. Bit immature. Third/fourth round pick."

Mel Kiper Jr.: "Despite having the skill set you look for, Buchanan was very average in 2012. He has added weight and strength, and he looks the part of a 4-3 DE, but his production doesn't equal his talent. If you can coach him up and handle him properly, Buchanan has potential. Maybe the light goes on for him at the pro level, but right now he's an underachiever. Grade slipped noticeably after underwhelming final season. Fifth/sixth round."

Steve Beauharnais, LB, Rutgers

• 6-0 7/8, 240, 4.87
• 32 3/4 arms, 9 1/8 hands, 19 bench, 4.20 short shuttle, 33 vertical, 6.99 three-cone
• The undisputed leader of a Rutgers defense that was one of the best in the country;
• Is a four-down linebacker, meaning that in addition to playing on first and second downs, he can cover and stand out on special teams;
• Decent in coverage;
• Despite being a small player, he takes on blocks well and takes good angles;
• He is a lot smaller than the type of players the Patriots like to have on defense. He is almost the same size as former special teams standout Tracy White, who remains unsigned. Could be eyeing Beauharnais as White's replacement.

What the "experts" are saying:

OurLads Scouting: "Active and productive. Collected 268 career tackles and 16 sacks, which is rare for a MLB. Needs more core strength to take on the big linemen and backs. Quick to fit the hole. Normally takes good angles in pursuit. Tracks well moving downhill but will waste steps at times. Fifth/sixth round."

Pro Football Weekly: "A good, functional player with field smarts, toughness and competitiveness to fight his way into a starting lineup. Ability to play multiple positions will allow to minimally stick as a quality backup and contribute on special teams. Could prove to be a solid value selection. Fourth/fifth round."

Mel Kiper Jr.: "Generally an inside-the-box guy who understands the defense. Weight fluctuated so he needs to figure out at which weight he'll be most effective playing. He's a picture-perfect form tackler, but he'll also deliver bone-jarring hits. When this kids hits you, he hurts you. He's only average in coverage, otherwise his grade might be higher. Third-fourth round."

New Patriots wide receiver Josh Boyce, selected as the 102nd overall pick out of TCU, spoke to the media via conference call shortly after being drafted Saturday.

Were you surprised to get the call from New England?

JB: Not too much. I was just happy they gave me a call and I get a chance to play for a great organization.

How many pre-draft connections did you have with New England?

JB: I have a couple of them because me and Tom [Brady] have the same agent so that worked out great.

By Greg A. Bedard, Globe Staff

FOXBOROUGH -- A few nuggets and thoughts on the Patriots' fourth-round selection:

WR Josh Boyce, TCU

• Junior entry


• 5-11, 206 pounds, 4.38 in the 40 (tied for third highest at combine)


• 31 1/4-inch arms, 9 1/4-inch hands, 34-inch vertical, 4.10 short shuttle (good), 6.68 three-cone (great), 22 bench (great);


• Caught passes from Andy Dalton at TCU, and was a high school teammate of Robert Griffin III;


• Tied for second-highest among receivers this year with a Wonderlic score of 23. That's the highest known Patriots score since Deion Branch (26) in 2002;


• Led team with 66 receptions for 891 yards and seven touchdowns;


• Has lined up in various spots, including running back.

What the "experts" are saying:

OurLads Scouting: "A good athlete with rare speed. Didn't always play to that timed speed. Instant acceleration but rather picks up speed as he races down field. Can keep secondary honest by driving them deep. Good body control when making a catch. Can separate better deep than short and medium. Has size and speed coaches like but needs to elevate his inconsistent receivers skills."

Pro Football Weekly: "Good zie and strength. Terrific timed speed. Can play outside or inside. Flashes playmaking. ... Average length and leaping ability. Concentration drops are too prevalent. Did not catch naturally at the combine. Poor, lazy blocker. ... Boyce's stopwatch speed has yet to translate on the field, and Boyce does not project as a core special-teams player, meaning he will have to establish himself as a short-to-intermediate No. 3 to have longevity."

Mel Kiper Jr.: "He is a solid all-around receiver with a powerful, sturdy frame and an impressive upper body. Boyce also has very good speed and smarts for the position. Has the talent to be a very solid, reliable No. 2 receiver in right pro offense.

Analysis

Like that the Patriots have double dipped at receiver, and with two guys who can help outside the numbers. The lack of viable threats there has really hampered the offense in the biggest games. Certainly like the speed and the smarts on Boyce. He won't see the field if he doesn't catch or block well, but those are things that, hopefully, can be refined. Hearing from a lot of scouts that Boyce's foot fracture likely caused his drop from about a third-round level. A good prospect with a lot of potential with the type of skills that are needed in this offense.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

FOXBOROUGH – With four more picks to make, the Patriots will have a busy Saturday as the NFL draft concludes with rounds four through seven.

The Patriots own the 102nd (fourth round), 226nd (seventh round), 229th (seventh round) and 235th (seventh round) picks.

The draft will start at noon and teams will have only five minutes to make a selection. We'll be providing live coverage of the whole event again.

So far, we haven't seen one of Bill Belichick's annual trades with Andy Reid, now head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Patriots have yet to pick up a Florida Gator, another almost-annual draft day selection.

But more importantly, we haven't seen the Patriots address the loss of key backup interior lineman Donald Thomas. After filling every other conceivable need, it's likely the team will look to address depth issues, both on the the offensive and defensive lines. And the team still has a move to make at quarterback with an option to trade Ryan Mallett.

Who, though, is available at guard or center? Arkansas's Alvin Bailey and Alabama's Barrett Jones just to name a few.

I'm sure there will be some surprising selections, as there were on Day 2. But there are still some huge names that need to come off of the board, including USC quarterback Matt Barkley, Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams and Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene. (Gotta throw in the Rutgers guy.)

Day 3 will be just as interesting. Follow along.

@zuriberry

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Here are my takeaways from the Patriots' second and third rounds of the NFL draft.

1. Aaron Dobson fits the bill – First of all, I like his intangibles. I think when folks look at his ability to catch the ball in the air, they'll be as enamored with him as the Patriots obviously are. At Marshall he caught 57 passes for 679 yards and three touchdowns his senior year and was second-team All-Conference USA. At 6-3 and 211 pounds, he has the frame. And then there is the speed. He ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and pumped out 16 reps on the bench press. But again, it comes back to making catches down field and over defenders. So I present to you Exhibit A:

Are you excited yet? You should be.

Also, I love his comment about getting a chance to work with Tom Brady:

"That right there, you can't beat that. The best quarterback in the league. It's amazing because I've been watching him for so long, now that I get a chance to go play with him, it's a blessing."

Is that intimidating?

"No, not intimidating at all. I'm excited just to get to know him and start catching balls and try to help the situation out. "

2. Duron Harmon is this year's mystery Patriot – Apparently Harmon had some increased interest over the past few weeks from the Patriots and others. But no one knew that the Rutgers defensive back was so coveted at the NFL Network. When his name was called in the third round, there were no highlights to show. It led to this funny exchange Harmon had with his mother, Dawn.

"My mother, she was very excited. She was like ‘Oh my baby. Where’s your clips at?’ I was like, ‘Mommy, I don't think they knew I was going today, so I don't think they had any clips ready for me.’ She was a little upset about me not having clips, but I think me getting drafted just overtook her sadness about my clips."

Harmon started all 13 games for the Scarlet Knights at safety in 2012, recording 50 tackles and seven pass breakups. His Rutgers teammate and fellow Patriots draft pick, Logan Ryan, said it wasn't surprising to see Harmon selected so high while being rated so low.

"It didn't surprise me one bit," Ryan said. "He is a great football player and I’m with him and he’s my workout partner. He works extremely hard and he believes in himself, and I believe in him. He has all of the measurables and the speed and anything that you look for. He was a two-time All Big East defender and I think if you were best in the conference two straight years then you’re worthy of being a third-round pick."

3. As suspected, a cover linebacker was taken – We were sure after evaluating the Patriots linebacker corps that the team needed someone other than Jerod Mayo who could cover tight ends and bigger receivers (think Anquan Boldin) in nickel situations. Linebacker Jamie Collins will fill that role nicely as a converted safety. He ran a 4.59 40-yard dash and has an amazing leaping ability (41 1/2 vertical jump). As long as he doesn't have to cover Rob Gronkowski, I think he can contribute right away. What was surprising, if anything, was that the Patriots reached for a linebacker first. The team is stocked with them, including: Mayo, Dont'a Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Niko Koutouvides, Mike Rivera, and Jeff Tarpinan.

4. For Rutgers players, a support system in place – Logan Ryan, the Patriots' third pick of the NFL draft, and Harmon, the team's fourth pick so far, join a growing contingent of former New Jerseyans. The Scarlet Knights can now boast three players in the Patriots secondary, including Devin McCourty. But there's also Justin Francis, who went undrafted last year before making the team. And before that there was Alex Silvestro and Tiquan Underwood, making a strong presence of Rutgers players in New England. Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick's son, went to the university. But with so many on the team now – and picked so close together – the benefits of the Jersey connection will be apparent for NFL grooming, providing a strong support system.

"The relationship that Devin and I have goes beyond words," said Ryan. "He’s a guy that helped me make the transition coming from being a talented high school player to becoming a college corner, and now for him to be there for this next step – I’ve grown up over the years – I’m not that 18-year-old boy anymore. To have the opportunity to compete alongside him in practice every day and the work ethic that he brings and the great leader that he is – I’m just honored to be able to play alongside him and [be in] the Patriots organization."

Neither Ryan or Harmon are expected to come in and start. But the support system in place will get them ready for when they're needed.

5. And why is it that Rutgers players are so highly valued? – Duron Harmon answers that question best:

"To tell you the truth, I think it all has to start with [former Rutgers] coach Greg Schiano. He’s instilled in his players a great football mindset. We know how to prepare for games. We prepare like professionals at Rutgers University – that’s something that he’s instilled in all of us. I think a lot of players when they get to the NFL, they don’t know how to watch film, they don’t know how to practice, they don’t know how to do the certain things that you have to do to be a great football player. I think coach Schiano instilled that in us and I think coach Belichick saw those characteristics from Rutgers football players. He knows what he’s going to get from the Rutgers football players. I think he has gotten that consistently over the years. I think that’s why he has seriously taken great looks at Rutgers football players."

@zuriberry