FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots on Friday signed third-round draft pick Ellis Hobbs, a cornerback out of Iowa State who also returns kicks.

Terms of Hobbs’ deal were not disclosed. With his signing, the Super Bowl champions now have six of their seven 2005 draft picks under contract.

The second player chosen by the Patriots in the draft, Hobbs was the 84th overall pick. At 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, he made 209 career tackles and had nine interceptions while starting 38 of 49 games at Iowa State.

He earned first-team All Big 12 honors in 2004 with five interceptions and 71 tackles.

Hobbs also returned 24 kickoffs for 490 yards.

To make room on the roster, the Patriots released rookie running back DeCori Birmingham, who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas on April 29.