When a team finishes with the highest-scoring offense and the worst third-down defense, you would expect the defense to be the draft priority.

Think again.

Although experts and fans pegged the front-seven as the Patriots’ biggest need, Bill Belichick spent only a sixth-round pick on a pass rusher.

By the time the Pats made their last selection at No. 219, the team had drafted a quarterback, two offensive linemen, two running backs, a blocking tight end, two cornerbacks and an outside linebacker.

Not exactly what most fans were expecting.

The draft haul leaves a lot of questions: Where will the pass rush come from? What is the plan for Ryan Mallet? Is there a change in offensive philosophy? Another tight end?

As someone who takes a heavy interest in scouting and the draft process, I can say many of the picks were head scratchers. That being said, I think nearly every pick has a fair explanation and fit behind it.

Patriots 2011 Draft Class

1(17) Nate Solder, T, Colorado: With Matt Light’s 10-year run possibly over, the Patriots needed to secure his replacement. Solder was one of the top options available and was said to be on the Giants’ radar at pick 19. Also, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan and Aldon Smith were already off the board (although I think the Pats should have given consideration to trading up for Quinn). That said, Solder has tremendous upside because of his size and athleticism, but will he be able to play right away? He has boom potential, but could also fail because of his lack of power and strength.

Grade: B

2(1) Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia: After passing over Cameron Jordan and other pass rushers in the first round, many thought the Pats would take either Brooks Reed or Jabaal Sheard with the 33^rd pick. We were all wrong when Belichick opted for Dowling, a first-round talent who slid because of a senior year marred by leg injuries. I’m torn on this pick because Dowling is definitely a solid player with the ability to form a lockdown tandem with Devin McCourty, but by selecting Dowling the Patriots took themselves out of the running for any of the other 3-4 OLB prospects in round two. The Pats have swung and missed on a corner with an injury history – Tyrone Wheatley – so let’s hope Dowling can stay healthy and play to his abilities.

2(24) Shane Vereen, RB, California: Heading into the draft, we all knew running back was a need. While I think he was drafted a little early, I liked the complete game that Vereen brings to the table and don’t think Mikel Leshoure or Mark Ingram were elite enough prospects to take earlier in the draft. Physically, Vereen has it all - size (5-foot-10, 210 pounds), speed (4.49) and strength (31 reps). He was also a productive player who rushed for 1,176 yards last season and has good hands and blocking ability. I don’t think he’s a great player by any means, but he is good in all areas and will have a nice role in this running back stable.

Grade: B

With their last pick, the Patriots opted to take another defensive back and another player from TCU.

New England used the 219th selection on Malcolm Williams, a free safety/cornerback who played mostly on special teams during his college career.

A former four-star recruit and Oklahama commit, Williams ended up playing two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College where he was second in the nation with five interceptions as a sophomore.

He will battle for a spot on special teams and has been dubbed the "Matt Slater pick" of this year.

With better-known Mark Herzlich and Greg Romeus still available, the Patriots selected a different outside linebacker at pick 194 with Markell Carter of Central Arkansas.

Carter has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 252 pounds) and speed (4.70) to be a 3-4 OLB.

He had good production with 16.5 career sacks and has impressive length with 34-inch arms.

While it wasn't the splash most fans were hoping for, it's at least something.

It's official. Bill Belichick has abandoned the defense in this draft.

With the 159th pick, the Patriots selected Lee Smith, a tight end from Marshall.

Yes, a tight end.

One who ran a 4.99 and was rated the 10th-best tight end and 215th-best player overall by NFL Draft Scout.

With defenders like Mark Herzlich, Brandon Blair, Chris Carter and Lawrence Guy on the board, this pick makes no sense considering the depth the Patriots have with Gronkowski and Hernandez.

With the 138th overall pick, the Patriots selected TCU offensive lineman Marcus Cannon.

The 6-foot-5, 358-pound mammoth played left tackle for the Horned Frogs and was rated a second-round prospect before he slipped due to concern that he may have testicular cancer.

He can play right tackle or guard and would seem to make sense as a guard with Vollmer and Solder on board.

Excellent value pick as he was clearly the highest-rated player available.

There's a ton to digest after the Patriots busy night on Friday.  Here's the Foxboro Blog crew's take on Rounds 2 and 3 of the draft. 

On the Patriots not addressing their pass-rush need:

Jason: I have a feeling some my cohorts are going to express some serious displeasure regarding the lack of pass-rushers, but I am probably less upset than most. I hoped the Pats would upgrade the front 7, but I think the New England braintrust felt that none of the rookies that were available in the second and third round were a true upgrade.

Stephen: When the Patriots took Nate Solder at 17 on Friday, I was skeptical. One night later, I'm pissed. For a team that is continually mentioned as one of the best drafters, today's haul in the second- and third-rounds was quite strange. I don't really buy the argument that Sheard/Reed or anyone at 33 would be a bad pick as the 9th/10th best player compared to a top corner. A lot of people keep emphasizing how the Patriots draft for "need" ie. Solder at 17, so then why can't they address their biggest need at 33 even if the value doesn't match up perfectly?

Maybe I'm totally wrong and Solder locks down the left side, Vereen and Ridley form the perfect combo with Woodhead, and Mallet turns into...something, but right now I can't be too happy that a defensive-needy team only took one player, a corner at that, when they had six of the first 92 picks in this draft.

Derek:  I don't think that Belichick intentionally avoided adding to the DE/OLB corps, I think the draft just unfolded in a way where he felt there was more value in making other selections.  I think prime targets for the Pats who could have possibly slipped to the Patriots were J.J. Watt and Aldon Smith, but they weren't available. Cameron Jordan was there at #17, but I had questions myself about how well he fit the Patriots.  Clearly other teams had concerns as well as he fell all the way to #24, and even Adrian Clayborn was selected ahead of him.  Sometimes the "experts" just don't have as good of a read on players as the teams do.  I think that was the case with Jordan. 

To counter Stephen's argument, I don't think Solder was a reach or that the Pats were drafting purely for need when they picked him.  Rumors are that the Giants would have had him at #19 if the Pats didn't take him, so it appears other teams were high on him as well.  Wilkerson or Heyward would have been good selections at #28, but I think the Saints trade offer was viewed as better value.  Same likley goes with Dowling at #33 over Sheard/Reed.  By the time #56 rolled around, I think the Patriots were past the point where any DE or OLB taken would have made a huge impact. Keep in mind, there's always free-agency.

Rick: I should probably be more angry at the Patriots for not taking a pass rusher in the first three rounds, but I surprisingly still have my sense of optimism about most of the Day 2 Picks. I think Belichick wants to let the young kids like a Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, or even a Dane Fletcher develop for another year. If that does not work out, well the Patriots will have 2 first rounders and 2 second rounders in the 2012 draft. They built for the future, but I look for a smart owner like Robert Kraft to be aggressive in free agency.

Despite the character concerns and poor forty time, the Patriots stopped Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet's slide and took him with the 74th pick in the draft.

The gunslinger is described as the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft, but he'll sit behind Brady and develop. 

This choice does make sense from a value standpoint, but for a team that prides itself on adding high-character guys, the red-flagged Mallet seems like an illogical fit.

I do appreciate his physical gifts and production in the SEC, but he's not going to see the field for at least three or four years, and the Patriots clearly have much bigger needs on defense that have not been addressed.

One pick before that, the Patriots made a head-scratching decision by drafting another running back, LSU's Stevan Ridley. He was an extreme reach in the third round and seems like nothing different than BenJarvus Green-Ellis. This may indicate Green-Ellis' departure and certainly seems to signal the end of the Kevin Faulk era.

I can't say I'm too pleased with Belichick's approach. With all these high-round picks, he has yet to add a front-seven defender which seemed to be the team's biggest need.

The trading down and picking up mediocre players is getting to be tiring and he doesn't seem to be helping this team get better immediately especially in terms of getting pressure on the quarterback.

After taking Shane Vereen at 56, the Patriots opted to trade their final second-round pick to the Houston Texans for a third-round pick (No. 73) and fifth-round pick (No. 138).

New England has failed to address its biggest need - the pass rush - but Justin Houston is still sitting on the board.

With 3 third-rounders, Belichick needs to upgrade the front-seven.

With the 56th pick, the Patriots addressed a position of need by selecting California running back Shane Vereen.

The former Golden Bear has good size at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds and speed (4.49).

He showed consistent improvement during his three-career, rushing for 715 yards as a freshman, 952 as a sophomore and 1,167 as a junior.

Also has versatility out of the backfield as a pass catcher, recording 74 receptions.

He averaged over five yards per carry every year during his career and fills out a nice role in New England's running back stable.

Another second-round pick, another cornerback.

With tons of speculation that New England would trade No. 33, the Patriots ended up selecting Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling.

While many thought Jabaal Sheard or Brooks Reed would be the top choice, Dowling isn't a bad move at all.

The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder has great measurables and would have been a first-round pick if he hadn't been injured his senior year.

At the combine, Dowling ran an impressive 4.40 forty and registered a 38-inch vertical jump.

Pairing Dowling with Pro Bowler Devin McCourty and returning veteran Leigh Bodden gives the Patriots some nice depth for the present and future at corner.

If he can stay healthy, Dowling and McCourty will be a great tandem.