NFP: Tracking Patriots Draft Trends

1. The Patriots have had eight or more draft picks in seven of the last ten drafts. To put that in perspective, as of the current moment only seven NFL teams have eight or more picks in this year’s draft.

 

2. From 2001-2007, New England drafted only one linebacker prior to the start of the sixth round (Ryan Claridge, UNLV, 5th round, 2005). However, over the past three years, the Patriots have selected five linebackers within the first three rounds, including first-round pick Jerod Mayo (Tennessee) in 2008.

3. Since drafting Laurence Maroney in the first round back in 2006, the Patriots have used only one selection on the running back position (Justise Hairston, Central Connecticut State, 6th round, 2007) over the last four years.

4. Despite drafting ten defensive tackles/nose tackles over the last ten years, only three of those players have been selected within the first 100 draft picks. Side Note: The Patriots have targeted the wide receiver position (5 players) more than anything else within the first 100 picks since 2001.

5. Since 2001, the Patriots have only drafted two offensive tackles (Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer) prior to the start of the third round.