To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the New England Patriots are on the clock now with the 7th Pick in the draft.

Pick #7: Vernon Gholston, LB Ohio State
After a record setting offensive season in 2007, the Pats will look to inject some youth into an aging defense that has been hit hard in free agency. The most obvious needs are LB, with the release of Roosevelt Colvin and likely retirement of Junior Seau, and CB with the free agent losses of pro-bowler Asante Samuel and nickel back Randall Gay. The Pats will consider taking the top cornerback at this spot, but with Vernon Gholston still on the board at #7 it's just too tempting to pass him up. Gholston is a tremendous athlete and will fit in nicely at the outside backer position in the Pats 3-4 alignment. The 3-4 mandates carrying an abundance of linebackers on the roster, possibly 10 or more, and heading into the draft there are several slots vacant here. Bill Belichick and company would not have expected Gholston to still be available, but fortunately for them the Jets went with a surprising pick at #6 with Matt Ryan. The Pats will now have Ohio State bookends at the outside linebacker position with Mike Vrabel manning the other side.

With that the Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock...