As of Feb. 6, the Patriots hold the third pick in the NFL Draft. If they hold, and make, that pick, it would be their highest selection since drafting Patriots Hall of Fame defensive end Willie McGinest with the fourth overall pick in 1994 – Robert Kraft’s first Draft as the team’s owner. It would also be their 14th top 10 Draft selection of all time (since 1970).
In fact, when looking at the number of selections the Patriots have made in each of the top 10 slots since 1970, their highest number of picks have come No. 1 overall. The Patriots have selected first four times since 1970. Those first overall selections include quarterback Jim Plunkett in 1971, defensive end Ken Sims in 1982, wide receiver Irving Fryar in 1984 and quarterback Drew Bledsoe in 1993.
The Patriots have never made a selection second, third or ninth overall. They did hold the third pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, but dealt it to Seattle along with a second rounder (29th) for the Seahawks two first round picks – eighth and 10th overall. New England selected linebacker Chris Singleton with the eighth pick and defensive tackle Ray Agnew at 10.
The Pats have drafted fourth overall three times and landed defensive tackle Phil Olsen in 1970, guard John Hannah in 1973 and McGinest in 1994.
Their other top 10 selections include cornerback Mike Haynes in 1976 (fifth overall), defensive tackle Richard Seymour in 2001 (sixth overall), wide receiver Terry Glenn in 1996 (seventh overall), Singleton in 1990 (eighth overall), and linebacker Jerod Mayo and Agnew (10th overall) in 2008 and 1990, respectively.
Included among the Patriots top 10 overall selections are five Patriots Hall of Famers (Hannah, Haynes, Bledsoe, McGinest and Seymour) and three Pro Football Hall of Famers (Hannah, Haynes and Seymour).
Breaking those top 10 picks down by position, New England has drafted eight defensive players (two linebackers, three defensive tackles, two defensive ends and one defensive back) and five offensive players (two quarterbacks, two wide receivers and one guard).
