01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 19, 2006

TOM CURRAN'S

DRAFT CARD

Leading up to the NFL Draft, the Journal's Tom E. Curran will profile a player at a "need" position for the Patriots each day. New England has 11 picks in the draft, six in the first four rounds. The Pats' first-round pick is the 21st overall. Profiles are based on our own analysis and interviews, various draft resources and Pro Football Weekly's 2006 Draft Preview book.

TODAY'S PROFILE:

GABE WATSON

POSITION: Nose tackle.

COLLEGE: Michigan.

HEIGHT: 6-foot-3.

WEIGHT: 339 pounds.

TIME IN THE 40: 5.3.

THE LOWDOWN

When Michigan switched to the 3-4 in 2004, he became the full-time starter as a junior. He had 37 tackles, seven behind the line, and two sacks. Had 40 tackles, 6.5 for losses, and two more sacks in 2005. Played in all 12 games in 2005. Also wrestled in high school.

THE PROS

Massive. Knows how to play in the two-gap and is a one-man pocket collapser if he can move quickly enough to get under the center and drive him back. Bigger than Vince Wilfork but not as agile. Has good initial quickness and commands attention. A good guy who hasn't suffered any injuries to date. He can really dominate, and he shows signs of increasing his effort, which was sketchy at times.

THE CONS

The effort question is one he's going to have to overcome. He was benched during the early part of the 2005 season in an effort to kick-start him into showing more urgency. His stamina is woefully insufficient and, as a likely result, he coasts during stretches and winds up on the ground too much. Pro Football Weekly said he has expanded to as much as 366 pounds, which may be too big. Then again, Ted Washington made a career of being that huge.

COULD HE BE A PATRIOT?

The Pats like Big Ten products. There's a greater chance Watson will be there at 21 than the only other nose tackle prospect worth noting, Haloti Ngata. He won't be there in the second round when the Pats' position comes around. Does New England need a player like Watson as a backup/complement to Wilfork, or is his sketchy track record in the effort department enough to scare them off using a first-rounder on an inconsistent performer? Assume Watson is getting looks in Foxboro, but, when the Pats' time comes, don't expect them to take a chance on him.

COLLECTION OF CARDS

"Draft Card" will run every day between now and April 28, which is the eve of the NFL Draft. All entries are archived on projo.com at www.projo.com/patriots.