Patriots Draft Picks: Late Round Selections

The Patriots ended up with nine total picks in this year's draft, so let's take a look at the team's late round selections.

Round 6

Kamu Grugier-Hill (208th Overall) Safety, Eastern Illinois

Note: Grugier-Hill was the first of three sixth round selections for the Pats. He played his entire career at EIU as an outside linebacker, but New England head coach Bill Belichick did make note that he is a kind of "hybrid" between the two positions, in his post draft presser. Belichick also mentioned that he thought Grugier-Hill could make an impact on special teams. The former Panther was a sure tackler during his collegiate career and earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in both his junior and senior seasons.

Elandon Roberts (214th Overall) Linebacker, Houston

Note: Roberts started his collegiate career with Morgan State, where he put up huge numbers, making over 100 tackles as a freshman. He then transferred to Houston, where it took some time for him to catch on. By his senior year, Roberts regained his Morgan State form, as he started all 14 games for Houston and led the AAC in tackles with 142. His ability to tackle will make him an attractive option in the special teams game right out of the gate. If he uses special teams to get a spot on the final roster, he could work to find playing time as a backup middle linebacker. Learning under veteran stars Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower could hurt his growth, either.

Ted Karras (221st Overall) Guard, Illinois

Note: The 23-year-old guard started 43 games over his four years in Illinois. He isn't necessarily as athletic as Thuney, but his consistent play and leadership will allow him to battle for a spot on the team's shaky offensive line that is in need of a remake. Karras also comes from a family with a big-time football background.

Round 7

Devin Lucien (225th Overall) Wide Receiver, Arizona State

Note: Taken with the team's final pick, Lucien will look to battle for a potential roster spot as a receiver. After spending four years at UCLA and failing to really stand out, Lucien transferred to Arizona State as a graduate student. With the Sun Devils Lucien flourished, catching 66 passes for 1,074 yards and eight scores. His ability to come in and not only learn the playbook but succeed with his new team is a good sign for Lucien being able to learn the Pats' complex playbook quickly. He'll be a long shot to make the final roster, but his abilities outside and the team's lack of downfield receiving options could help him out.