Patriots Draft Tackle Thomas Welch Out of Vanderbilt

The Patriots added some late-round depth to their offensive line, selecting offensive tackle Thomas Welch out of Vanderbilt with the first pick in the seventh round.

The Patriots traded two picks — Nos. 229 and 231 — to acquire
Washington's pick at No. 208 overall. The pick came shortly after the Patriots drafted center Ted Larsen out of North Carolina State.

A monster of a man at 6-foot-6, 307 pounds, Welch was a two-year starter for the Commodores. He was originally a tight end, but made the switch to right tackle.

ESPN.com had him rated as a 40, putting him in a group of "players that flash some upside but certainly do not have the full package in terms of NFL talent."