Patriots sign 6 draft picks

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots announced the signings Thursday of six draft picks, including defensive lineman Ron Brace and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, two of the team’s four second-round selections.

The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Brace, from Boston College, was the 40th overall selection in the 2009 draft. He could provide insurance if the Patriots are unable to re-sign nose tackle Vince Wilfork, whose contract expires after the upcoming season.

Vollmer (6-8, 315), the 58th overall pick, grew up in Germany and didn’t play football until he was 14. He started out as a tight end at Houston and wound up starting his last 25 college games at tackle.

The Patriots also announced the signings of third-round pick Brandon Tate, a wide receiver from North Carolina who is recovering from a knee injury; offensive lineman George Bussey, a fifth-round pick from Louisville; defensive lineman Myron Pryor, a sixth-round pick from Kentucky; and seventh-round pick Julian Edelman, who played quarterback at Kent State but is projected as a wide receiver by the Patriots.

Terms of the deals were not announced.

Safety Patrick Chung, from Oregon, the first of the Patriots four second-round picks, remains unsigned. The Patriots previously announced the signing of cornerback Darius Butler, from Connecticut, the 41st overall selection.

Training camp in Foxborough, Mass. is scheduled to begin July 30.

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots announced the signings Thursday of six draft picks, including defensive lineman Ron Brace and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, two of the team’s four second-round selections.

The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Brace, from Boston College, was the 40th overall selection in the 2009 draft. He could provide insurance if the Patriots are unable to re-sign nose tackle Vince Wilfork, whose contract expires after the upcoming season.

Vollmer (6-8, 315), the 58th overall pick, grew up in Germany and didn’t play football until he was 14. He started out as a tight end at Houston and wound up starting his last 25 college games at tackle.

The Patriots also announced the signings of third-round pick Brandon Tate, a wide receiver from North Carolina who is recovering from a knee injury; offensive lineman George Bussey, a fifth-round pick from Louisville; defensive lineman Myron Pryor, a sixth-round pick from Kentucky; and seventh-round pick Julian Edelman, who played quarterback at Kent State but is projected as a wide receiver by the Patriots.

Terms of the deals were not announced.

Safety Patrick Chung, from Oregon, the first of the Patriots four second-round picks, remains unsigned. The Patriots previously announced the signing of cornerback Darius Butler, from Connecticut, the 41st overall selection.

Training camp in Foxborough, Mass. is scheduled to begin July 30.