The Patriots focused on offense, offense, and offense during the first portion of free agency. So far in the 2012 NFL draft, however, it's been defense, defense, defense... and defense.
Wilson was widely considered a late-round pick on the verge of not being drafted, but the Patriots threw a major wrench into that thinking.
“I didn’t really know. I was hearing a lot of different things as far as what round and all that stuff,” Wilson told the media via conference call Friday night. “I just tried to focus, keep my head down and just keep on working. I never knew where I was going to be taken, but I just knew it was all over the place. It was out of my hands."
Patriots coach Bill Belichick noted Wilson's "leadership and character" as important factors that swayed New England's thinking.
The 6-foot-5, 271-pound Bequette wasn't as much of a surprise, and he'll likely get opportunities to play outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 scheme.
“I played the 4-3 end mostly in college,” Bequette told reporters, “but I also stood up a little bit in the outside linebacker position in the Senior Bowl and Combine. The more I did it, the more it grew on me. I feel comfortable in both. I can’t wait to see what the coaches have in store for me.”
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