Don’t worry about it …
Posted by Albert Breer at 3:43 pm
Brandon Meriweather remains the Patriots only unsigned draft pick and with that, added to a hamstring injury that kept him from veteran minicamp, there might be reason for concern as to how much he’ll be able to contribute. So we’ve compiled the Patriots’ history of signing top draft picks during this regime’s tenure (they gave up their 2000 No. 1 for Bill Belichick, which turned out OK.) Here you go:
2001
Reporting dates: July 20 (Rookies), July 23 (Veterans)
Pats pick: Richard Seymour (sixth overall) signs on July 23 – six years, $14.3 million, $4.8 million bonus
2002
Reporting dates: July 22 (Rookies), July 25 (Veterans)
Pats pick: Daniel Graham (21st overall) signs on July 20 – five years, $6.825 million, $1.4 million bonus
2003
Reporting dates: July 20 (Rookies), July 23 (Veterans)
Pats pick: Ty Warren (13th overall) signs on July 21 – six years, $21 million, $6 million bonus
2004
Reporting date: July 29 (Rookies and Veterans)
Pats pick: Vince Wilfork (21st overall) signs on July 19 – six years, $18.05 million, $5.825 million bonus
Pats pick: Benjamin Watson (21st overall) signs on August 16 – six years, $13.5 million, $4 million bonus
2005
Reporting dates: July 20 (Rookies), July 28 (Veterans)
Pats pick: Logan Mankins (32nd overall) signs on July 25 – five years, $6.4 million, $4 million bonus
2006
Reporting date: July 28 (Rookies and Veterans)
Pats pick: Laurence Maroney (21st overall) signs on July 28 – five years, $8.735, $6.13 million guaranteed
WHAT IT MEANS: It means the Patriots have avoided holdouts with all but one of the seven first-round picks taken under Belichick and Scott Pioli, though Seymour and Maroney came right down to the wire. So even if something doesn’t happen today, don’t be surprised to hear about this thing getting done tomorrow night to get Meriweather in town for the open of training camp on Friday at 8:45 a.m.
