FOXBORO - The Patriots took a novel approach to restricted free agency Monday.

They ignored it, and instead traded for the player they coveted.

In what must be a groundbreaking move by the Belichick administration, the Patriots dealt draft choices in this year's second and seventh rounds to the division-rival Miami Dolphins for wide receiver Wes Welker, a restricted free agent whom they were prepared to sign to an offer sheet.

The deal, first reported on Sports Illustrated's Internet site, was confirmed by the Patriots Monday afternoon.

The route to getting Welker, a 25-year-old speedster, was one of the most unique ones taken by the Patriots in the past seven-plus seasons. Miami had already tendered Welker at $1.3 million for the next season. Any team had the opportunity to offer him a contract, and the Dolphins would then have had seven days to either match the offer and retain Welker's services, or accept a second-round draft pick in compensation.

Welker was in Foxboro Monday to meet with the Patriots' brass, and reportedly, a long-term contract had already been worked out. Published reports speculated that the Patriots were willing to offer the receiver and punt returner as much as $6 million a year as a "poison pill" that the Dolphins would refuse to match.

At what point it was determined to pursue a trade is not clear. But the Patriots have a plethora of draft picks (including two first-rounders) and are likely to receive more when the NFL announces its compensatory selections for free agents lost before the 2006 season, so sweetening the pot with a seventh-round selection was chump change.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported that to facilitate the trade, the Dolphins had to sign Welker to a one-year contract on Monday.

It's a win-win scenario for both teams because the Dolphins got more draft choices through trade than they would have gotten from the compensation rules, and the Patriots now have a signed player in hand and can negotiate a longer-term contract at a less expensive price than would have been necessary to keep Miami from matching the offer sheet.

Welker is only the second player in the last 15 NFL seasons to lead his team in receptions, punt returns and kickoff returns in the same year, which he did in 2006. Derrick Mason accomplished that feat with the Tennessee Titans in 2001, and was courted mightily in free agency by the Patriots before he signed with Baltimore in 2005.

The Patriots are looking for a boost in productivity both at wide receiver and in their punt returns, and the speedy Welker will likely provide that.

A Texas Tech product, Welker has played in 47 career games with three starts for the San Diego Chargers (one game in 2004) and Miami (2004-06). He was the Dolphins' leading receiver last year with 67 catches for 687 yards and a touchdown, and has led Miami in both punt returns and kickoff returns in each of the last three seasons.

Welker has 127 punt returns for 1,232 yards (9.7 average), and 170 kickoff returns for 3,858 yards (22.7) and a touchdown. He is Miami's all-time leading kickoff returner in terms of both yardage and total returns, but will more likely concentrate more upon punt returns in New England.

In addition to his contributions on offense and in the return game, Welker also assumed the kicking duties for the Dolphins in a game against the Patriots on Oct. 10, 2004, connecting on a field goal and an extra point while also handling kickoffs due to a pre-game injury to regular kicker Olindo Mare. Welker also recorded a career-high nine receptions against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium last Oct. 8, and his 77 receiving yards marked the second highest total of his career.