Who are the best draft picks in New England Patriots history? The list runs deep for the six-time Super Bowl champs, as the franchise developed a championship pedigree that didn’t exist before Bill Belichick’s arrival.
A lot goes into the decision of the best draft picks in Patriots history. Some players were drafted in Round 1, others in Round 7, and some undrafted. Yet, it shouldn’t be surprising to see who tops the list at the end of the day.
Below, we dive into the best draft picks in New England Patriots history.
10. Matt Light, offensive tackle, 48th overall pick in 2021 NFL Draft
Matt Light is one of two Patriots players from the 2001 NFL Draft on this list. Light was selected in the second round and played 11 seasons at left tackle. He was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams and made three Pro Bowls. Most notably, Light had one first-team All-Pro selection, which came during the Patriots’ near-perfect season in 2007. Light played 155 games in New England before retiring after the 2011 season.
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9. Logan Mankins, offensive guard, 32nd overall pick in 2005 NFL Draft
Logan Mankins was picked in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft and had an outstanding career with New England. Mankins never won a Super Bowl, but he did make seven Pro Bowls with five second-team All-Pro selections and one first-team All-Pro selection. He played nine years with the Patriots before going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two years. Mankins was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010s and represents one of New England’s best draft picks for their offensive line.
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8. Ty Law, cornerback, 23rd overall pick in 1995 NFL Draft
Ty Law was drafted in the first round and firmly established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in Patriots’ history. Law won three Super Bowls and led the NFL in interceptions twice in 1998 and 2005. He also made five Pro Bowls and earned two first-time All-Pro selections. Law was drafted before the Belichick era and spent 10 years with the team. At the end of his career, Law played in the NFL for 15 years and retired with the Denver Broncos.
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7. Devin McCourty, safety, 27th overall pick in 2010 NFL Draft
Devin McCourty was initially drafted as a cornerback in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft before transitioning to a safety. McCourty became the defensive cornerstone of three Super Bowl-winning teams and remained an elite safety until he retired in 2022. He made two Pro Bowls and earned three second-team All-Pro selections. McCourty’s leadership and play on the field arguably make him the most important secondary player in New England’s history.
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6. Vince Wilfork, defensive tackle, 21st overall pick in 2004 NFL Draft
Vince Wilfork was one of the best defensive tackles of his era, with the Patriots striking gold in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Wilfork won two Super Bowls and served as the cornerstone of the organization’s defensive line. He made five Pro Bowls, earning one first-team All-Pro selection and four second-team All-Pro selections. Wilfork spent 11 years with the Patriots before ending his career with the Houston Texans in 2016.
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5. Richard Seymour, defensive end, 6th overall pick in 2001 NFL Draft
Richard Seymour is the highest draft pick of Belichick’s tenure in New England, and the selection paid off in a big way. Seymour won three Super Bowls and represented a core piece starting the Patriots’ dynasty. He made seven Pro Bowls while earning three first-team All-Pro selections and two second-team All-Pro selections. Seymour spent eight years with the Patriots before joining the Oakland Raiders for four years to close out his career.
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4. Julian Edelman, wide receiver, 232nd overall pick in 2009 NFL Draft
Julian Edelman’s story is from a movie, as the Patriots picked him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Edelman is a quarterback turned wide receiver and undoubtedly the second-best receiver in NFL playoff history. He won three Super Bowls and one Super Bowl MVP, joining a small list of wide receivers to win the prestigious award. Edelman spent 11 years with the organization and will go down as one of the best Patriots wide receivers in history.
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3. Rob Gronkowski, tight end, 42nd overall pick in 2010 NFL Draft
Rob Gronkowski is arguably the best tight end ever, and the Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Gronkowski won three Super Bowls with New England and four overall while leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns once. He made five Pro Bowls and earned four first-team All-Pro Selections. Gronkowski spent nine years with the Patriots before joining the Buccaneers for two seasons with a familiar face.
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2. John Hannah, offensive guard, 4th overall pick in 1973 NFL Draft
John Hannah was selected with the fourth pick of the 1973 NFL Draft and never looked back. Hannah spent his entire 13-year career with New England and is arguably the best offensive guard in NFL history. He made nine Pro Bowls while earning seven first-team All-Pro selections and three second-team All-Pro selections. Hannah never won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, but it is rare to draft one of the best offensive linemen ever.
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1. Tom Brady, quarterback, 199th overall pick in 2000 NFL Draft
Who is the best draft pick in the Patriots’ history? The answer is Tom Brady, the greatest NFL player of all time. Brady won six Super Bowls with New England and seven overall while winning five Super Bowl MVP awards. The list of accomplishments never ends, but it includes three Most Valuable Player awards and 15 Pro Bowls. Following his tenure in New England, he went to the Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl in his first year. There was never a surprise about who would top the list, and no one would ever take Brady’s crown.