01:00 AM EDT on Friday, April 21, 2006

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 a total of 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:

DONTE WHITNER

POSITION: Safety

COLLEGE: Ohio State

HEIGHT: 5-foot-10

WEIGHT: 204

TIME IN THE 40: 4.45

THE LOWDOWN

Yet another good prospect who is coming out as a junior and doesn't have a lengthy body of work on which to make an evaluation. Can play free safety and strong safety with equal effectiveness because he has good speed and fluidity and also likes to hit in run-support. Started 12 games in 2005 and had 73 tackles. In 2004, he had a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery but missed just two games and finished with 69 tackles.

THE PROS

A good leader who plays with confidence and communicates well with secondary mates. Loves to hit. Really shows an interest in getting better, and (Patriots motto) football is important to him. Has excellent speed, and his instincts and quickness make him even more potent. Matches up well with wide receivers in the slot and has the range to chase when playing deep in Cover-2, according to ESPN.com's Scouts Inc.

THE CONS

He's got to add some size, and his height isn't ideal. He could have been a lock first-rounder if he had stayed another year and played well, but he chose to enter the draft, and that will make teams leery of him. Despite his ability to finish off at the pile, he can be handled when a downfield blocker (wide receiver) locks him up. He'll have to get stronger to improve at getting off those blocks. His lack of height may slow him in diagnosing plays quickly from the secondary.

COULD HE BE A PATRIOT?

In a lot of ways, he's similar to Eugene Wilson. He's got speed, cover ability and a penchant for hitting. The question is, do the Pats want to add a somewhat unpolished safety they'll need to spend at least a second-round pick on, when they took James Sanders in the fourth round last year, Guss Scott in the third round the year before and Wilson (drafted as a corner) in the second round in 2003? There have to be guys more appealing than Whitner at 21, and there's no way he lasts on the board until 52. He could help the Pats, but they're not likely to get 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