FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Picking some winners and losers for the New England Patriots in the wake of their 11-player draft class:
Winner: Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard, cornerbacks
Why: With the Patriots not selecting a cornerback until the seventh round, that's good news for players like Ryan and Dennard, who are part of a group that will compete to fill the sizable void created by the departures of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
Loser: Michael Buchanan, defensive end
Why: The Patriots drafted three edge players and two of them -- third-rounder Geneo Grissom (Oklahoma) and Trey Flowers (Arkansas) -- should be locks to make the team behind starters Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich. That puts roster-based stress on some of the other backups, such as Buchanan.
Winner: Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator
Why: Seven of the 11 picks were on defense.
Loser: Tavon Wilson, safety
Why: The selection of Stanford safety Jordan Richards in the second round adds another lock at the position behind starters Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung, and also No. 3 safety Duron Harmon. If everyone's healthy, Wilson's path to a roster spot might be more challenging than past years.
Winner: James White/Travaris Cadet, running backs
Why: The Patriots have a void to fill with pass-catching running back Shane Vereen departing in free agency and by not drafting a player out of what was considered a deep class, it keeps White (fourth round, Wisconsin) and Cadet (unrestricted free-agent signing) on the inside track.
Loser: Danny Aiken, long snapper
Why: When a team drafts a long snapper in the fifth round, like the Patriots did with Navy's Joe Cardona, that's usually not a good sign for the incumbent. Aiken remains a free agent.
Winner: Aaron Dobson, Brandon Gibson, Brian Tyms, wide receivers
Why: The top of the depth chart is solidified with Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola, but there is a good competition as to how it will shake out behind them. Fortunately for Dobson, Gibson and Tyms, the Patriots didn't select a receiver out of what was considered a deep class.
Loser: Ryan Wendell, guard
Why: He was essentially the fourth choice at right guard to begin 2014, and despite emerging as a starter and helping solidify what had been a shaky o-line, Wendell's possible replacement was drafted in the fourth round (Tre' Jackson) and then the team also selected center/guard Shaq Mason with its next pick.