Pats Draft Pick Trades During Belichick Era

[jmt57]

Sometimes a comment gets repeated so often it becomes accepted as fact. One of those comments is that Bill Belichick always trades down, he never trades up. For some opposing fans and media members, this has actually grown beyond the original statement as I now hear and read that Belichick hates first round picks.

With that in mind I decided to take a look at transactions involving draft picks during Belichick's tenure with the Pats. While Belichick is indeed more likely to trade down than trade up, you have to also take a closer look at those definitions. Trading down may be defined as anything resulting in making the selection later, but very often the Pats are actually ending up with a higher draft pick - but in the following season. Also, there is no evidence that I can see that shows Belichick loathes first round picks. And the last thing that stood out to me is how many compensatory picks the Pats have been able to pick up this decade.

Here is a list of transactions involving draft picks during Bill Belichick's tenure with the Pats.



2009
In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel to Chiefs for their #34 (2nd)

Prior - Pats acquired #47 (2nd) in 2008 trade

Comp - #97 (3rd) as comp for FA Asante Samuel

Out - Pats traded # 159 to Eagles for WR Greg Lewis

Comp - # 170 (5th) as comp for FA Donte Stallworth

Comp - # 207 (6th) as comp for FA Randall Gay



2008
Down - Draft Day: Pats trade their #7 (1st) and #164 (5th) to the Saints for their #10 (1st) and #78 (3rd)
Pats pick LB Jerod Mayo at #10 and LB Shawn Crable at #78
Saints pick DT Sedrick Ellis at #7 and OT Carl Nicks at #164

Down/Future - Draft Day: Pats trade their #69 (3rd) to the Chargers for their #160 (5th) and a 2nd round 2009 pick (#47)
Chargers pick FB Jacob Hester at #69
Pats trade pick # 160 later, and the other pick will be made Saturday

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade that #160 (5th) and #238 (7th) to the Bucs for their #153 (5th)
Pats pick WR Matt Slater at #153
Bucs pick QB Josh Johnson at #160 and RB Cory Boyd with #238

Down - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #28 (1st) of 2007 for a 1st round 2008 pick (#7) and #110 (4th) in 2007
49ers pick OL Joe Staley at #28
Pats trade #7 (above) and end up with Jerod Mayo and Shawn Crable
Pats trade #110 (4th) for Randy Moss



2007
In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade WR Deion Branch in 2006 to Seahawks for their 1st round 2007 pick (#24)
Pats pick Brandon Meriweather at #24 (1st) in 2007

Out - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade # 165 (5th) for WR Doug Gabriel
Raiders pick S Eric Frampton at #165

In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade WR Deion Branch to Seahawks for their 1st round pick (#24)
Pats pick Brandon Meriweather at #24 (1st) in 2007

Out - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #60 (2nd) and #238 (7th) to Dolphins for WR Wes Welker
Dolphins pick C Samson Satele and DE Abraham Wright

Down/Future - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #28 (1st) of 2007 for a 1st round 2008 pick (#7) and #110 (4th) in 2007
49ers pick OL Joe Staley at #28
Pats trade #7 (above, in '08) and end up with Jerod Mayo and Shawn Crable
Pats trade #110 (below)

Out - Draft Day: Pats trade #110 (4th) for Randy Moss to Raiders
Raiders pick CB John Bowie

Down/Future - Draft Day: Pats trade #91 (3rd) for a a 3rd in 2008 and 7th (#211) this year
Raiders pick T Mario Henderson at #91
Pats pick LB Oscar Lua at #211
Pats use 3rd in 2008 to trade up to 2nd in 2009 (Jacob Hester trade)

In - Pats trade T Brandin Gorin for the Cardinals 6th (#180)
Pats pick LB Justin Rogers

Comp - #171 (5th) for FA Adam Vinatieri
Pats pick OL Clint Oldenburg

Comp - #208 (6th) for FA David Givens
Pats pick RB Justise Hairston

Comp - #209 (6th) for FA Tom Ashworth
Pats pick OT Corey Hilliard

Comp - #247 (7th) for FA Christian Fauria
Pats pick C Mike Elgin

After the 2006 draft, the Pats also traded OL Ross Tucker to the Browns and RB Patrick Cobbs to the Steelers for conditional draft picks, but it appears the Pats did not get any draft picks in return for either player.



2006
Out - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #152 (5th) to Browns for WR Andre Davis
Browns pick DB DeMario Minter

Up - Draft Day Trade: Pats trade #52 (2nd) for Packers # 36 (2nd) and #75 (3rd)
Pats pick WR Chad Jackson
Packers pick WR Greg Jennings and C Jaspn Spitz

Prior - Pats acquired #106 in a 2005 trade
Pats pick FB Garrett Mills

Prior - Pats acquired #136 in a 2005 trade
Pats pick OT Ryan O'Callaghan

Comp - #205
Pats pick G Dan Stevenson

Comp - #206
Pats pick DL LeKevin Smith



2005
Out - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #95 (3rd) and #168 (5th) to Cardinals for CB Duane Starks and #145 (5th)
Cardinals pick LB Darryl Blackstock and LB Lance Mitchell
Pats trade the #145 pick to the Lions (below)

Future - Draft Day Trade: Pats trade # 145 (5th) and #206 (6th) to Lions for a 4th in 2006 (#106)
Pats pick FB Garrett Mills in 2006
Lions pick QB Dan Orlovsky and DE Jonathan Goddard

Down - Draft Day Trade: Pats trade #64 (2nd) to Ravens for a 3rd (#84), 6th (#195) and a 2006 3rd (#75)
Ravens pick OT Adam Terry
Pats pick CB Ellis Hobbs at #84; the other two picks are later traded to Green Bay (Chad Jackson trade)

Up - Draft Day Trade: Pats trade #195 (6th) and #246 (7th) to Packers for #175 (6th)
Packers pick WR Craig Bragg and G William Whitticker
Pats later trade the #175 pick to the Raiders (below)

Down/Future - Draft Day trade: Pats trade #175 (6th) to Raiders for #230 (7th) and a 2006 5th (#136)
Raiders pick DT Anttaj Hawthorne
Pats pick QB Matt Cassel (and in 2006 pick T Ryan O'Callaghan)

Comp - #100 (4th)
Pats pick OG Nick Kaczur

Comp - #170 (5th)
Pats pick LB Ryan Claridge

Comp - #255 (7th)
Pats pick TE Andy Stokes



2004
Out - Pre-Draft Trade: Pats trade #56 to the Bengals for RB Corey Dillon
Bengals pick FS Madieu Williams

Out - Pre-Draft Trade: In 2003 the Pats trade #104 (4th) of 2004 to the Bears for NT Ted Washington
Bears trade pick; 49ers pick DT Isaac Sopoaga

Out - Pre-Draft: Pats give up #197 (6th) to Steelers in compensation for signing RFA DE Rodney Bailey
Steelers pick C Drew Caylor

Prior - Pats acquired #21 in a 2003 trade
Pats pick DT Vince Wilfork

Prior - Pats acquired #113 in a 2003 trade
Pats pick S Dexter Reid


continued

 

[jmt57]

2003
In - Pre-Draft day: Pats trade T Grant Williams to Rams for a 7th round pick (#225)
Pats trade that pick in another trade that results in draft of C Dan Koppen

In - Pre-Draft Day: On 2002 draft day Pats trade QB Drew Bledsoe to Bills for 2003 1st (#14)
Pats trade the pick (see below)

In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade Greg Randall to Texans for #154 (5th)
This pick is used in another trade (below) for pick used on C Dan Koppen

Up - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #81 (3rd) and #140 (5th) to Redskins for #75 (3rd) and a 2004 4th
This pick is used in another trade (below) used on picks for Eugene Wilson and Dan Klecko

In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade S Tebucky Jones to Saints for #78 (3rd), #239 (7th), and a 2004 4th (113th)
Pats use #78 in trade that results in Corey Dillon, and take Tully Banta-Cain and Dexter Reid with the others

Future - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade #78 (3rd) from above to Dolphins for their 2nd pick in 2004
Dolphins pick T Wade Smith
Pats later use pick to trade for Corey Dillon

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #14 (1st) and # 193 (6th) to Bears for #13 (1st)
Bears pick DE Michael Haynes and trade other (OT Marques Ogden)
Pats pick DL Ty Warren

Down/Future - Draft Day: Pats trade #19 (1st) to Ravens for #41 (2nd) and 2004 1st (#21)
Ravens pick QB Kyle Boller
Pats trade the #41 pick (see below); pick Vince Wilfork with the 2004 #21 pick

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #41 (2nd) and #75 (3rd) to Texans for #36 (2nd) and #117 (4th)
Texans pick TE Bennie Joppru and OT Seth Wand
Pats pick DB Eugene Wilson and DL Dan Klecko

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #50 (2nd) and #120 (4th) to Panthers for #45 (2nd)
Panthers pick C Bruce Nelson and trade #120 to Broncos (see below)
Pats pick WR Bethel Johnson

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #128 (4th) and #157 (5th) to Broncos for #120 (4th)
Broncos pick DE Bryant McNeal and C Ben Claxton
Pats pick CB Asante Samuel

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #154 (5th) and #225 (7th) to Titans for #164 (5th), #201 (6th), and #243 (7th)
Titans pick S Donnie Nickey and T Todd Williams
Pats pick C Dan Koppen, QB Kliff Kingsbury, and DT Ethan Kelley



2002
In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade WR Terry Glenn to Packers for #126 and 2003 4th (#128)
Pats pick DE Jarvis Green at #126 and use 2003 pick in deal that turns results in Asante Samuel

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #32 (1st), #96 (3rd), and #234 (7th) for #21 (1st)
Redskins pick QB Patrick Ramsey, trade #96 (DT Dorsett Davis) and pick DE Greg Scott
Pats pick TE Daniel Graham at #21

In/Future - Draft Day Trade: Pats trade QB Drew Bledsoe to Bills for 2003 1st (#14)
Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #131 (4th) and #144 (5th) to Broncos for #117 (4th)
Broncos pick S Sam Brandon and WR Herb Haygood
Pats pick QB Rohan Davey

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #168 (5th) to Cowboys for #237 (7th) and a 2003 5th
Cowboys pick CB Pete Hunter
Pats pick RB Antwoine Womack

Out - Pre-Draft day: In 2000 the Pats traded their 2002 6th to Rams for WR Dane Looker
Rams pick QB Steve Bellisari



2001
Out - Pre-Draft Day: Pats send #101 (4th) and #206 (7th) to Jets as part of Bill Belichick deal
Jets pick CB Jamie Henderson and NT James Reed

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #39 (2nd) to Steelers for #50 (2nd) and #112 (4th)
Steelers pick LB Kendrell Bell
Pats use #50 in trade that ends up as Matt Light pick, and #112 in trade that ends up as Kenyatta Jones pick

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #50 (2nd, from Steelers) and #173 (6th, from 49ers) to Lions for #48
Lions pick C Dominic Raiola and LB Jason Glenn
Pats pick OT Matt Light

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #69 (3rd) to Vikings for #86 (3rd) and #119 (4th)
Vikings pick CB Eric Kelly
Pats pick CB Brock Williams and TE Jabari Hollaway

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #112 (4th) and #139 (5th) to Chargers for #96 (4th)
Chargers pick LB Carlos Polk and LB Zeke Moreno
Pats pick OL Kenyatta Jones

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #149 (5th, from Jets) to Lions for #180 (6th) and #216 (7th)
Lions pick QB Mike McMahon
Pats pick TE Arthur Love and K Owen Pochman

Down/Future - Draft Day: Pats trade #170 (6th) to Jaguars for 2002 5th
Jaguars pick G Chad Ward
Pats pick

Comp - #239 (7th)
Pats pick LB T.J. Turner



2000
Out: Pre-Draft: Pats send first (#16) to Jets as part of Bill Belichick deal
Jets trade it to 49ers, who pick LB Julian Peterson

Comp - #127 (4th)
Pats pick Greg Randall

In - Pre-Draft: Pats trade DE Mike Jones to Rams for 5th (#161)
Pats pick G Jeff Marriott

Comp - #199 (6th)
Pats pick QB Tom Brady

Comp - #201 (6th)
Pats pick DE David Nugent

Down/Future - Pats trade #212 (7th) to 49ers for 2001 6th
49ers pick QB Tim Rattay

Comp - #239 (7th)
Pats pick FB Patrick Pass




Bottom Lines of how in essence some of the trades turned out:
Pats traded Sedrick Ellis, Carl Nicks, Joe Staley and John Bowie for Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable and Randy Moss
- Pats traded Sedrick Ellis and Carl Nicks for Jerod Mayo and Shawn Crable
- Pats traded John Bowie for Randy Moss
Pats traded Samson Satele and Abraham Wright for Wes Welker
Pats traded Jacob Hester, Josh Johnson and Cory Boyd for Saturday's #47 pick and Matt Slater
- Pats traded Josh Johnson and Cory Boyd for Matt Slater
Pats traded Deion Branch for Brandon Meriweather
Pats traded Eric Frampton for Doug Gabriel
Pats traded Greg Jennings and Jason Spitz for Chad Jackson
Pats traded Brandin Gorin for Justin Rogers
Pats traded Darryl Blackstock, Lance Mitchell, Dan Orlovsky and Jonathan Goddard for Duane Starks and Garrett Mills
Pats traded Anttaj Hawthorne for Matt Cassel and Ryan O'Callaghan
- Pats traded Craig Bragg and William Whitticker for Matt Cassel and Ryan O'Callaghan
Pats traded Madieu Williams for Corey Dillon
Pats traded Isaac Sopoaga for Ted Washington
Pats traded Michael Haynes and Marques Ogden for Ty Warren
- Pats traded Drew Bledsoe and Marques Ogden for Ty Warren
Pats traded Kyle Boller for Vince Wilfork and more
Pats traded Bennie Joppru and Seth Wand for Eugene Wilson and Dan Klecko
Pats traded Dominic Raiola and Jason Glenn for Matt Light

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Impressive. Enjoyed reading your work.

 

[OhExaulted1]

Great research jmt57. The analysis is top notch to boot. I see your name on a post and I always read it, and this is a prime example why.

Good stuff my friend.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Great job! I think this refutes those always/never trade scenario people. I'm not sure if anyone can read into this all too much though as there are no patterns subtle or otherwise. It proves we have made mistakes(trading UP for Slater??????), but that we value VALUE more than any individual players. Meaning that if there isnt a player that both fits in the Pats' system AND has value on their board (relative to other players) they would just take a pass.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Great work. I think the only thing you can summize from this is that BB is not afraid to dance up or down or into the future.

I hope Crabtree falls to #10 so BB can move up to take him.

 

[jmt57]

I think the only thing you can summize from this is that BB is not afraid to dance up or down or into the future.

That's exactly what I got out if it too. Though many try to pigeon-hole Belichick with 'trends', he's far more complex than that. He does what he thinks will put the team in the best position to win, period.

 

[jmt57]

Time for an update:


2009
In - Pre-Draft Day: Pats trade QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel to Chiefs for their #34 (2nd)
Pats pick SS Patrick Chung

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #23 to Ravens for #26 and #162 (5th)
Ravens pick OT Michael Oher
Pats later trade both picks

Down - Draft Day: Pats trade #26 (1st) and #162 (5th) to Packers for #41 (2nd) and #73 (3rd)
Packers pick ILB Clay Matthews and OT Jamon Meredith
Pats pick CB Darius Butler and trade #73 to Jacksonville for a 2nd in 2009

Prior - Pats acquired #47 (2nd) in 2008 trade to Chargers for their #69 2007 pick
This pick is used later in a trade to acquire DL Ron Brace at #40

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #47 (2nd), #124 (4th) and #199 (6th) to the Raiders for #40 (2nd)
Raiders pick SS Mike Mitchell, WR Louis Murphy and DE Stryker Sulak
Pats pick DL Ron Brace

Out/Future- Draft Day: Pats trade #73 (3rd) to the Jaguars for a 2010 2nd and #232 (7th)
Jaguars pick CB Derek Cox
Pats pick WR/QB Kent Edelman at #232

Out/Future - Draft Day: Pats trade #89 (3rd) to the Titans for a 2010 2nd
Titans pick TE Jared Cook

Comp - #97 (3rd) as comp for FA Asante Samuel
Pats pick OLB/ILB Tyrone McKenzie

In - Draft Day: Pats trade CB Ellis Hobbs to the Eagles for #137 (5th) and #141 (5th)

Up - Draft Day: Pats trade #137 (5th) and #141 (5th) to Ravens for #123 (4th) and #198 (6th)
Ravens pick ILB Jason Phillips and trade #141 to Denver (WR Kenny McKinley)
Pats pick OG Rich Ohrnberger and LS/DT Jake Ingram

Out - Pats traded # 159 to Eagles for WR Greg Lewis
Eagles pick OT Fenuki Tupou

Comp - # 170 (5th) as comp for FA Donte Stallworth
Pats pick OL George Bussey

Comp - # 207 (6th) as comp for FA Randall Gay
Pats pick DL Myron Pryor