Finley visits with Pats

The Patriots hosted Texas TE Jermichael Finley on a pre-draft visit today at Gillette Stadium.

At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Finley is coming off a season in which he caught 45 passes for 575 yards and two touchdowns. He leaves Texas after his redshirt sophomore season.

A profile of Finley on NFL.com calls him "a sure-handed pass catcher with the body control and competitiveness to make the tough catch and the athleticism to make defenders miss" as well as "an improving blocker with the physicality and determination to eventually stand out in this area."

The Patriots are likely to add to their tight end ranks, either through the draft or free agency. The team has Benjamin Watson, David Thomas and Stephen Spach on the roster at the position.

As for pre-draft visits, NFL teams are allowed to host up to 30 out-of-town prospects at their facility. The purpose of the visits can range from genuine interest to gamesmanship. Because players do not work out on the visits, the time is essentially utilized to get a final medical evaluation and spend more time with the player.