The New England Patriots are one of the most consistent franchises in all of football and one reason is due to the fact that they draft well and get their picks into camp on time and so far the team has done a good job of that, signing Josh Boyce and Michael Buchanan ahead of the start of mandatory workouts.

According to ESPN.com, the teams signed both Josh Boyce and Michael Buchanan, while second round pick Aaron Dobson is still unsigned. Buchanan was taken in the seventh and he signed a deal with the team to leave Dobson as the only one left. Buchanan was the best pass rusher for Illinois last season and he will be a key part in helping Bill Belichick upgrade the defensive line. Buchanan can play both DE and linebacker and he will be used in various spots to try and disrupt passing lanes next season.

Belichick likes to use his defensive line in different ways and Buchanan showed last year that he has solid speed and a knack for getting to the quarterback. Buchanan can play on his hands or up in a stance and he should be able to help Vince Wilfork clear the way in the middle. Boyce was signed by the team out of the fourth round and is now on a four-year contract worth $2.637 million. Boyce was one of a number of wideouts picked by the Pats and he will have a chance to get into the starting lineup once training camp starts. Both players were signed to normal deals for those picks and each will have a split salary depending on injuries and the preseason.

The Patriots were one of the best teams last season, but they needed some wideouts to make up for Wes Welker leaving for the Broncos and the team will want to keep up its fourth ranked passing attack. The team ranked seventh in rushing yards ear game while going 12-4 and they will get a solid start to the season with games against the Bills, Jets and Buccaneers, who have old fiend Darrelle Revis.