Matthew Wells to New England Patriots: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

After focusing on the trenches early, the New England Patriots might be bolstering their special teams units in the late rounds.  Following the selection of long snapper Joe Cardona, the Pats drafted speedy tweener Matthew Wells.  A linebacker at Mississippi State, Wells doesn't have a clear defensive fit in the NFL, but he does have speed that can't be taught.

Indeed, the 4.44-second 40-yard dash time that Wells ran at his pro day would have been the fastest among all linebackers at the scouting combine.  For someone with little scouting information out, that number is the first thing that should grab readers' attention.  

It's wholly unclear what the Pats plan to do with Wells, but taking a look at some reports surrounding the ex-Bulldog, it looks like New England might have landed itself another versatile prospect.

What Wells Brings

Besides speed, Wells actually has a considerable amount of experience for an SEC contender.  Wells started all 26 games the past two years in Starkville and played in all 52 possible career collegiate games.  Though he posted a relatively nondescript statistical profile his first three years, Wells did see an uptick in disruptive plays last season, notching a career-high four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

However, at 6'2" and 222 pounds, Wells is far too small to stay on the edge at the NFL level.  In many ways, his size-speed combination is a little reminiscent of Shaq Thompson, the Carolina Panthers' first-round selection this season:

Of course, Thompson is far more advanced as a defensive prospect and, quite frankly, more athletic.  Still, just as Thompson was an explosive running back at Washington, Wells was actually a 4-star running back recruit coming out of high school, per NESN's Doug Kyed.   

Wells played with a couple of high-end talents on the Bulldogs' front seven in Benardrick McKinney and Preston Smith and never really entered the same class as either. Though I won't pretend as though I've seen his game tape, the lack of tackle numbers belie a player with undeveloped instincts who might have been learning the game in college.

That he was able to flip to the other side of the ball and still turn into a two-year starter at an SEC program illustrates his athleticism.  Wells might be as positionless as any player in this draft, but his tools might enable him to make a splash in one specific phase.

How Wells Fits

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Despite the lack of information, Wells' measurables had the smell of an ace special teamer.  And in fact, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said that Wells should turn into a huge asset in the third phase:

When the Pats took Jordan Richards, I speculated that Tavon Wilson and/or Nate Ebner could end up off the final roster as a result.  Considering that both Wilson and Ebner are core-four special teams contributors, Wells' addition only fuels that line of thinking, as the Mississippi State rookie could probably seamlessly end up in coverage and blocking units.

Fans will wonder about his fit on the defensive front.  He certainly does not have the bulk to set the edge, but perhaps Wells can develop into a sub-package specialist with that kind of speed.  My guess would be that his coverage instincts are poor—it takes thousands of reps to hone that area, so if Wells started playing linebacker in college, he probably isn't ready to contribute defensively at the NFL level.

If the Pats see him as a core special teamer right away, then Wells could have a spot on the 46-man game-day roster.  Otherwise, he feels like the type of practice-squad stash who might need a couple of years before he's ready to contribute in any capacity.

Bottom Line

Bill Belichick loves extracting talent from SEC pipelines, and there are worse things than taking a two-year, full-time starter from the conference.  Despite his inexperience, there's buzz on Twitter that Wells could eventually develop into a coverage-type linebacker, which makes sense given his measurables.

Along with Shaq Mason, the Pats have now taken two non-combine invitees in addition to a long snapper who might not be eligible to play for multiple seasons.  This is simply par for the course, though, and how a coach chooses to fill out the depth areas of his roster is largely a matter of personal preference.

The Pats still have yet to take a wide receiver, running back or cornerback, which will surely puzzle the legions.  With three picks remaining, it's become increasingly clear that New England has had a much different diagnosis for its weaknesses than the general public.