New England Patriots DT Danny Shelton: Vince Wilfork has been 'really helpful' in 2018 offseason

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive tackle Danny Shelton #55 of the Cleveland Browns and teammates wait to take the field for warm ups before playing against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)(Patrick Smith)

Before Danny Shelton became the first acquisition of the Patriots' offseason, the massive defensive tackle connected with a New England legend.

One Vincent Lamar Wilfork.

"For me, (Wilfork) is someone that I still look up to, even when he was with the Texans," Shelton said on a Monday conference call. "I got an opportunity to reach out to him, kind of pick his brain and learn a couple tips from him. He's been really responsive. He's been a guy that's been really helpful this offseason. I'm looking forward to reaching out more and learning more from him."

Coming out of the University of Washington in 2015, the 6-foot-2, 339-pound Shelton was considered to be one of the best two-gapping defensive tackle prospects since Wilfork.

Consider how rare it is for defensive linemen who weigh upwards of 320 pounds to be selected in the top half of the first round: Since Wilfork entered the league, there was Shelton in 2015, Dontari Poe in 2012, B.J. Raji in 2009, and Haloti Ngata in 2006. That's it.

NFL teams generally do not target run-stopping defensive tackles near the top of the draft; instead, they've opted for athletic interior linemen like Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy, and Fletcher Cox (all of whom weigh around 300 pounds). That's the way the league is trending.

Still, Shelton's draft position three years ago -- he went No. 12 overall to Cleveland -- is an indicator of his enormous upside. He just hasn't quite tapped it yet.

Speaking with New England media on Monday, Shelton said he's glad to begin a "new chapter" in his career. He hopes the change of scenery will benefit him (as it often does for players coming to the Patriots), and he hopes to continue to build on his connection with Wilfork.

While he has long admired Wilfork, Shelton never got the chance to speak with him until this offseason. He's unsure exactly how the connection was formed, but he believes his agent, Jeff Sperbeck, tracked down Wilfork's contact information and passed it along.

"He had me reach out to him this offseason not knowing that I was going to be traded; just to kind of hear from a great defensive tackle," Shelton said. "Now that I'm a New England Patriot, it just seems even more welcoming to learn from one of the greatest New England Patriots."

The Shelton trade cost the Pats little, and it could pay huge dividends. New England's run defense surrendered an eye-popping 4.7 yards per carry, which ranked 31st in the NFL. It was the worst mark by any Patriots defense in the Bill Belichick era, barely edging out the 2002 unit that was ripped apart for 2,198 yards on the ground.

In the immediate post-Wilfork era, Alan Branch served as the team's top space-eating defensive tackle, but his performance sharply declined this past season. The Pats passed on the option in Branch's contract, sending him to free agency.

After struggling versus the run in 2017, the Pats enter the new season with a solid foundation of Shelton, Malcom Brown, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine, and Adam Butler.

"I know we've got a very talented group," Shelton said. "I'm really looking forward to getting with the guys and learning from them, as well, to start the relationship building quicker than later."

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