Patriots take underrated Mississippi St. LB Matthew Wells

Preston Smith and Benardrick McKinney weren’t the only playmakers on Mississippi State’s defense last season.

Matthew Wells, an athletic two-year starter at linebacker, became the Bulldogs’ third draft pick on Saturday after the New England Patriots scooped him up early in the sixth round.

He was classified as an unknown by most draft experts:

Second time in four years a player was drafted and I had no info on him. Matthew Wells to the Patriots.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 2, 2015

Wells notched 45 total tackles and ranked second on team in stops behind the line of scrimmage with 8.5, including four sacks. He joins second-rounders Smith and McKinney in what’s been an impressive group of Western Division defenders in this class.