The New England Patriots signed first-round draft pick Laurence Maroney on Friday. Maroney, a running back from the University of Minnesota, agreed to a five-year deal. He will be competing for playing time between starter Corey Dillion and veteran backup Kevin Faulk.

Maroney ran the ball very well in college, but there are several questionable qualities about him.

Maroney is a threat to break one at any second. He has great instincts to recognize how the defense is positioning themselves, allowing him to find open room on almost every play. It's tough to bring him down on the first hit due to his incredible lower body strength. If he gets into the open field, he can surprise defenders after he kicks into another gear. He doesn't always go to open space; he knows how to follow his blockers when he needs to and then bounce to the outside.

Maroney does not have the ideal size for a starting running back, which means it's hard to tell whether or not he could "get stronger" as the game goes on. He is not the greatest receiver out of the backfield, making him one-dimensional. Maroney will probably be taken in the later parts of the first round, but will be a risk for whoever selects him. He has good qualities, but whether or not he can bring that same talent to the NFL level is the question.