Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, right, talks with the team’s 2008 first-round draft choice, Jerod Mayo.

AP / Stephan Savoia

FOXBORO –– He approached the small stage at the center of the Gillette Stadium field, his cornrows freshly plaited and wearing an ensemble similar to the two men who flanked him: a dark suit, pale blue shirt and red-patterned tie.

Jerod Mayo was ready for his close-up.

The New England Patriots’ first-round draft pick last weekend, Mayo met with the media yesterday, receiving his ceremonial number-one blue home jersey from Robert and Jonathan Kraft and answering a few questions about his thoughts and experiences since hearing his name called as the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft.

“I’m just excited. I’m overwhelmed, really,” Mayo said. “Just sitting in Mr. (Robert) Kraft’s office, sitting there talking with the owner of the team really overwhelmed me. I’m ready to get my playbook and start learning this defense.”

Mayo said he and Kraft talked about life in general, how the predraft process went for the former Tennessee standout, and Kraft’s hair color: the owner joked that his now-white head of hair wasn’t that way when he took ownership of the team, in 1994.

The 6-foot-1 linebacker said he was also thinking about his journey to get to that point, from his days growing up in Hampton, Va., with his three brothers and their mother, Denise Mayo-Hinds; it was just the five of them until Mayo was about 14, when Denise remarried.

Mayo and Kraft also discussed the Patriots organization. As he said Saturday evening, Mayo’s biggest draft surprise was being selected by a team coming off a one-loss season — thanks to a trade with San Francisco last year, the team went into this year’s draft with the seventh overall pick, though New England traded down to number 10.

“First and foremost, it’s all about business and it’s all about winning (in New England),” Mayo said. “They like to win games and this organization is committed to winning games. They have me excited and I’m just ready to get my playbook.”

He is eager to meet his new teammates, particularly the linebacking crew that has over 40 years of combined experience — a number that jumps to nearly 60 years if Junior Seau returns.

“I am just going to sit back and learn from the greats. These guys have been winning championships before me and hopefully they will be winning championships with me,” Mayo said.

He reiterated that his goal right now is to be a sponge, and contribute when he’s on the field, no matter what role he plays.

“I’m a hard worker and I’m coming here to contribute to this team in any way that I can, whether it be with special teams or with the starters,” Mayo said. “I’m coming to make a contribution and help with a championship.”

From the sounds of it, Mayo had landed in Foxboro only an hour or two earlier; he admitted that the reality of arriving at his new professional home hadn’t hit him.

“Like I said earlier, I’m just overwhelmed. I don’t think any of it has sunk in yet,” Mayo said. “It will tonight when I am in the hotel room, so ask me that tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is today, when Mayo, the six other young men the Pats drafted and the 11 undrafted players they’ve signed take to the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium for rookie minicamp.

smanza@projo.com