FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots signed four draft picks on Monday, including second-round pick Chad Jackson, and kicker Stephen Gostkowski, the team’s fourth-round pick and possible replacement for Adam Vinatieri.
The team also signed fourth-round pick David Thomas, a tight end; sixth-round pick Jeremy Mincey, a linebacker; and free agent wide receiver Keron Henry.
The team has now signed all its 2006 draft picks except first-round selection Laurence Maroney.
Jackson, a wide receiver who had 88 receptions for 900 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Florida, could be an immediate contributor as the team lost No. 2 receiver David Givens, who signed with the Tennessee Titans.
The Patriots’ top receiver, Deion Branch, skipped a mandatory minicamp in June because of a contract dispute, and could miss the start of training camp later this week.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Jackson had 120 receptions for 1,586 and 16 touchdowns in three seasons at Florida.
Gostkowski made 70 of 92 field goals in four years at Memphis. He was 22 of 25 in field goals his senior year, but 10-for-10 from 40 yards or more, including three of more than 50 yards.
He and veteran Martin Gramatica are expected to compete for the kicker’s job, vacated when Vinatieri signed a free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
The 6-foot-3, 248-pound Thomas finished his collegiate career at Texas as the school’s top receiving tight end, with 98 receptions for 1,367 yards and 15 touchdowns, all school records.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Mincey had 123 tackles, including 5 sacks, in two seasons at Florida, where he played defensive end.
Henry signed with the New Orleans Saints as a rookie free agent in 2005 out of Connecticut, then signed with the San Diego Chargers, who assigned him to NFL Europe before releasing him in June.
The Patriots also waived offensive tackle Jon Doty.
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