Mon, Mar 5, 2007 at 12:00am

WELKER THE NEWEST PATRIOT

The New England Patriots acquired wide receiver Wes Welker from the Miami Dolphins for a second-round draft pick in 2007 and a seventh-round draft pick in 2007.

What does it give the New England Patriots
A very underrated and versatile talent in Welker. Head coach Bill Belichick loves guys like Welker, who is similar to many of the current Patriots in that he's a smart, hard-working, and sneaky-good football player. The Pats like to keep their options open in the passing game and on special teams, and Welker fits into those plans perfectly. He managed to become a standout as both a receiver and punt returner for the Dolphins, and will likely be used in several capacities with New England. The Pats gave up some solid picks for him, but always manage to get the most out of the draft regardless of their place in the pecking order.

What does it give the Miami Dolphins
One pick they can use on a possible everyday player, and another they can use on a long shot like Welker. With new head coach Cam Cameron now in charge, the running game becomes Miami's offensive focus. When Cameron was in San Diego last season he wasn't known for featuring many of his wideouts, and that may explain why third-option Welker was deemed expendable here. The second-rounder will be very useful to the Dolphins, and may help them plug a hole they see as more pressing than wideout (say, some youth on the D-line).

Fantasy impact