Patriots plug plenty of holes in draft.

Byline: Rich Garven

FOXBORO -- The Patriots went into the NFL Draft on Thursday with nine picks and, after executing a pair of trades, ended up selecting 11 players at seven positions by the time the three-day, seven-round, heavily-hyped affair concluded Saturday evening.

How all that newly accumulated talent translates from the draft board to the playing field remains to be seen.

And that includes by the Patriots themselves, who believe they have a handle on what this rookie class can do to help defend their Super Bowl championship -- as one who think after devoting so much time and money to the scouting process -- but aren't entirely certain.

"I think the players that we take we have an idea of what we think they'll do for our team,'' coach Bill Belichick said after the draft. "Each guy has a specific, 'Here's what we think he'll do.' Now, what he actually does or not, we can't forecast that with 100 percent accuracy. But I'd say that's the way it is with everybody.

"Draft anybody you want, but until you actually get them into your system and start working with them and see how their skills transfer to what you're doing, I don't think you really know until you actually start doing it.''

The Patriots will begin the integration and orientation process Thursday when a weekend rookie camp commences at Gillette Stadium.

The group will also include Devin Gardner, a quarterback-turned-receiver from Michigan who reportedly signed with the Patriots on Sunday after going undrafted. All told, the Patriots figure to sign no more than six undrafted rookies -- about half their typical total following the draft -- which would fill out the 90-man roster.

"That kind of completes the initial part of our roster here,'' Belichick said. "We'll keep working through the team-building process, as we always do. (We) saw several players come on to our roster halfway through the season or thereabouts last year. There's a long way to go on that. I think this is just a step, a significant step in the process, but certainly not the final one.''

So for all those fretting about the Patriots not drafting a cornerback high enough or a receiver or running back at all, help may yet be on the way. (And the fact they didn't take a receiver would seem to be votes of confidence for third-year pros Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce.)

What shouldn't be overlooked is the Patriots filled some obviously glaring needs with the selections of defensive tackle Malcom Brown in the first round...