Today In Patriots History April 27, 1982: NE drafts Ken Sims, Andre Tippet, Clayton Weishuhn

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T08:59:53-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1982 Draft

April 27, 1982:
The 47th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1982 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3

Despite Kenneth "Game Day" Sims never living up to the status of a number one overall pick, that was fortunately offset by the selection of Hall of Famer Andre Tippett. The forgotten man in all of this was Clayton Weishuhn, an absolute force on the field who had hall of fame potential himself, had it not been for bad knee injuries (and 1980's sports medicine/surgeries not being nearly as advanced as they are now).

1st round, 1st overall -- DE Kenneth Sims, Texas
eight seasons, 74 games (64 starts); 17 sacks

Pats trade rights of retired TE Russ Francis to San Francisco for a 1st (#27) and 4th (#111) round draft pick

1st round, 27th overall -- NT Lester Williams, Miami
four seasons, 40 games (13 starts); 5½ sacks, two fumble recoveries

Pats trade S Tim Fox to San Diego for a 1982 2nd (#40) and 1983 3rd (#80)

2nd round, 40th overall -- RB Robert Weathers, Arizona State
five seasons, 44 games (six starts); 1,001 yards from scrimmage, four touchdowns

Pats trade down, sending their 2nd round pick (#29) to the 49ers for two seconds (#41, #55)

2nd round, 41st overall -- LB Andre Tippett, Iowa
11 season, 151 games (139 starts); franchise career record 100 sacks; top three team single-season records for sacks (18½ in '84)
2x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl; NFL All-1980s Team; 1985 Defensive Player of the Year; Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2008
Pats All 1980s Team, All 1990s Team, 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams; Pats Hall of Fame, 1999
University of iowa Hall of Fame, 2007; Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 2009; Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, 2012

2nd round, 55th overall -- TT Darryl Haley, Utah
four seasons, 57 games (24 starts)

3rd round, 56th overall -- WR Cedric Jones, Duke
nine seasons, 120 games (38 starts); 191 receptions for 2,703 yards (14.2 ypc); 16 touchdowns

(Patriots had received a third round pick from Seattle in exchange for RB Horace Ivory on Sept 25, 1981)
3rd round, 60th overall -- LB Clayton Weishuhn, Angelo State
four seasons, 30 games (26 starts)
single-season franchise record 229 tackles (1983)

On Day Two the Patriots added Fred Marion and three backups in rounds 4-12. Marion and Hall of Famer Andre Tippett were the only players that kept this draft from being a complete disaster - made worse when taking into consideration the trades of Francis, Fox and Ivory added four early picks. Sims may have lasted for eight years, but he has to be considered a bust. He certainly didn't live up to his draft status; nor did Williams, Weathers or Haley. Weishuhn was on the verge of becoming a major impact player - he still holds the franchise record for most tackles in a single season - but back-to-back preseasons with a blown out knee prematurely ended his very promising career.

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T09:35:36-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 2023 Draft

April 27, 2023:
The 88th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2023 NFL Draft
Outside of Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri
Day One, Round One

The Patriots grabbed a player that many did not expect to be available at #17, Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez. Coming on the heels of the 2022 draft (Cole Strange in the 1st, Tyquan Thornton in the 2nd), the choice brought a sigh of relief to Pats fans.

Patriots Trade Back, Grab CB Gonzalez with the 17th Overall Pick | PatsFans.com

The Patriots traded out of the 14th overall spot, which didn't surprise anyone on Thursday night during the league's Round 1 coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft.

www.patsfans.com

As expected, the Patriots did a little maneuvering as they traded out of the 14th overall spot on Thursday night during the league’s Round 1 coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft.

New England made a deal with Pittsburgh to move back to 17 while picking up a 4th round selection (120th overall pick) in the trade.

With that selection they took Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez, with the rookie having been one of the highest-rated cornerbacks in the draft.

Looking at the film, Gonzalez is impressive. He’s a big player, coming in at 6’1″ 197lbs and he’s both athletic and not afraid of contact, showing little fear when it comes to having to come up and make a tackle in the ground game.

He’s got terrific speed and athleticism, with really good instincts and great change of direction. Among his highlights in college, one thing that also stands out is how well he swivels and moves, as well as his impressive ability to go up and attack the football. He’s also really physical and has great vision, making a fair amount of plays where he instinctively jumped the route and made the turnover.

He’s also incredibly fast, running a 4.38 40 in the combine and posted a 41.5″ vertical.

Overall, it gives the Patriots a solid, big corner for 2023 and hopefully another foundational player as they continue building their defense. The former Oregon standout joins a secondary that now has second-year players Jack Jones and Marcus Jones, as well as veteran Jonathan Jones, with the rookie giving the club a terrific perimeter player. The Patriots now have a formidable secondary to round out a defense that was already among the best in the NFL last season.

As a result, adding a prospect of his caliber at a premium position certainly feels like a home run. It definitely fills a massive need and the Patriots will head into Day 2 and 3 with 11 more selections, giving them plenty of currency to work with as they continue hopefully adding even more talent in the coming days.

DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION Thread 'OFFICIAL 2023 Patriots Draft Day Discussion: Round 1'

Apr 27, 2023

Opening this up for tonight's first round.

Content Post Thread '23 PTP Board/Draft thoughts'

Apr 27, 2023

Offense

Tackle is pretty thin up top but especially in the middle round imo, late isn't great either. This is definitely a group you need to do your homework on bc the talent just isn't there you need to coach up most of this class from day 1. Which isn't something you'd normally expect from a top 30-40 prospect.

Wright is the most NFL ready imo. Powerful, athletic, plays with attitude and supposedly has a little bit off the field too. Still he's a PTP that would plug and play with Onwenu. Those two would be destroying people on down blocks and in our power scheme.

Skoronski is a...

DRAFT Thread 'Christian Gonzalez'

Apr 27, 2023

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36309866/2023-nfl-draft-first-round-patriots-christian-gonzalez-suit

NFL Draft 2023: Full breakdown of each Patriots pick, including Christian Gonzalez and a former LSU receiver

Every pick New England made at the 2023 NFL Draft

www.cbssports.com

upstater1 · 2026-04-27T10:06:58-0400

Sims was the right pick.

One of the most dominant DLs the college game has ever seen.

I still say his broken leg is what robbed him from becoming a force in the NFL.

He actually did have one GREAT year for the Patriots when he showed that he could demolish offensive lines. It didn't last though. People still feel the pick was a bust.

But anyone who faults the scouting for what happened with Sims is missing the big picture. He absolutely deserved to be the top pick in the draft.

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T10:09:51-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 1983 Draft

April 27, 1983:
The 48th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1983 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-12

On Day One the Patriots selected QB Tony Eason, WR Darryal Wilson, WR Stephen Starring and G Steve Moore. Eason was just a three-year starter before flaming out, Wilson lasted a mere one season in the NFL, and Starring and Moore were starters for only three years combined. Not exactly the productivity a team is looking for from four players selected in the first three rounds.

Day Two was far superior. LB Johnny Rembert, CB Ronnie Lippett and RB Craig James combined to play in 300 games for the Patriots, with 216 starts over 23 seasons while being named to three Pro Bowls; Toby Williams was also a solid lineman for six seasons with New England. Tom Ramsey also spent six seasons with the Patriots as a backup QB, going 2-2 as an emergency starter due to injuries.

4.101 -- LB Johnny Rembert, Clemson
(previous year Pats traded Rod Shoate to Chicago for 5.118)
5.118 -- DE Smiley Cresswell, Michigan State
5.128 -- TE Darryl Lewis, Texas-Arlington
6.155 -- K Mike Bass, Illinois
7.187 -- RB Craig James, Southern Methodist
8.214 -- CB Ronnie Lippett, Miami
Pats trade a 1984 4th to Saints for 9.233, 10.265, 11.292 and 12.319
9.233 -- RB Ricky Williams, Langston
9.240 -- TE Mark Keel, Arizona
(previous year Pats traded LB Bill Matthews to the Giants for 10.264)
10.264 -- TE James Williams, Wyoming
10.265 -- DE Toby Williams, Nebraska
10.267 -- QB Tom Ramsey, UCLA
11.292 -- WR Steve Parker, Abilene Christian
11.294 -- DE Calvin Eason, Houston
12.319 -- RB Waddell Kelly, Arkansas State
12.326 -- OT Andy Ekern, Missouri

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T10:36:51-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 2003 Draft

April 27, 2003:
The 68th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2003 NFL Draft
The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-7

4th round, 117th overall -- LB Dan Klecko, Temple

Pats trade up, sending a 4th (#128) and 5th (#157) to Denver for their 4th (#120)
4th round, 120th overall -- CB Asante Samuel, Central Florida

Pats trade Greg Randall to Houston for a 5th (#154)

Pats trade down, sending that same 5th (154) and a 7th (225) to Tennessee for a 5th (164), 6th (201) and 7th (243)

5th round, 164th overall -- C Dan Koppen, Boston College

6th round, 201st overall -- QB Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

7th round, 234th overall -- FB Spencer Nead, Brigham Young

7th round, 239th overall -- OLB Tully Banta-Cain, Cal

7th round, 243rd overall -- DT Ethan Kelley, Baylor

Samuel, TBC, and Koppen were great values relative to their draft positions, making for an excellent Day Two.

borisman · 2026-04-27T10:37:43-0400

Wow, I didn't realize Ken Sims passed away last year. RIP.

borisman · 2026-04-27T10:48:00-0400

upstater1 said:
Sims was the right pick.

One of the most dominant DLs the college game has ever seen.

I still say his broken leg is what robbed him from becoming a force in the NFL.

He actually did have one GREAT year for the Patriots when he showed that he could demolish offensive lines. It didn't last though. People still feel the pick was a bust.

But anyone who faults the scouting for what happened with Sims is missing the big picture. He absolutely deserved to be the top pick in the draft.

I know they ran the ball a ton in the ~~BIG 8~~ SWC at the time but did he really record 131 tackles his junior season?

NCPATSFAN1971 · 2026-04-27T12:20:34-0400

jmt57 said:
Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 1983 Draft

April 27, 1983:
The 48th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1983 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-12

On Day One the Patriots selected QB Tony Eason, WR Darryal Wilson, WR Stephen Starring and G Steve Moore. Eason was just a three-year starter before flaming out, Wilson lasted a mere one season in the NFL, and Starring and Moore were starters for only three years combined. Not exactly the productivity a team is looking for from four players selected in the first three rounds.

Day Two was far superior. LB Johnny Rembert, CB Ronnie Lippett and RB Craig James combined to play in 300 games for the Patriots, with 216 starts over 23 seasons while being named to three Pro Bowls; Toby Williams was also a solid lineman for six seasons with New England. Tom Ramsey also spent six seasons with the Patriots as a backup QB, going 2-2 as an emergency starter due to injuries.

4.101 -- LB Johnny Rembert, Clemson

(previous year Pats traded Rod Shoate to Chicago for 5.118)

5.118 -- DE Smiley Cresswell, Michigan State

5.128 -- TE Darryl Lewis, Texas-Arlington

6.155 -- K Mike Bass, Illinois

7.187 -- RB Craig James, Southern Methodist

8.214 -- CB Ronnie Lippett, Miami

Pats trade a 1984 4th to Saints for 9.233, 10.265, 11.292 and 12.319

9.233 -- RB Ricky Williams, Langston

9.240 -- TE Mark Keel, Arizona

(previous year Pats traded LB Bill Matthews to the Giants for 10.264)

10.264 -- TE James Williams, Wyoming

10.265 -- DE Toby Williams, Nebraska

10.267 -- QB Tom Ramsey, UCLA

11.292 -- WR Steve Parker, Abilene Christian

11.294 -- DE Calvin Eason, Houston

12.319 -- RB Waddell Kelly, Arkansas State

12.326 -- OT Andy Ekern, Missouri

Wow! I never thought about the Patriots picking Tony Eason over Dan Marino. I guess one never knows for sure how a draft is going to turn out . A lot of people liked Eason including Ron Meyer and Raymond Berry and they made the decisions but I liked Grogan and Flutie over Eason any day. And I agree the Second Round that year was much better than the First with picks LB Johnny Rembert, CB Ronnie Lippett and RB Craig James. These guys were great players and I remember watching them play.

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T12:31:24-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 2008 Draft

April 27, 2008:
The 73rd Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2008 NFL Draft
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 3-7

One look at Shawn Crable's legs and it is no surprise that he was constantly injured and never made it in the NFL. The use of a third round pick at quarterback at this point in Tom Brady's career never made any sense whatsoever to me. Jonathan Wilhite started out fine, but then he too kept getting injured.

Not a good day when the only thing you have to show for it is a fifth round special teams ace, even if he was a Pro Bowler at that task.

As for day one, the Pats selected Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo at #10 overall in the first round, had their own first, #31 overall, stolen by Roger Goodell, and used their second round pick on Colorado CB Terrence Wheatley.

Pats trade down, sending a 3rd (#69, FB Jacob Hester) they received in a 2007 trade-down to San Diego for a 5th (160) and a 2009 2nd (Ron Brace)
Patriots traded down the previous day, sending #7 overall (Dt Sedrick Ellis) and and a 5th (#164, OT Carl Nicks) to New Orleans for #10 overall (Mayo) and a third (#78)
3rd round, 78th overalll -- LB Shawn Crable, Michigan
3rd round, 94th overall -- QB Kevin O'Connell, San Diego State
4th round, 129th overall -- CB Jonathan Wilhite, Auburn
Pats trade up, sending a 5th (#160) and 7th (#238) to Tampa to move up seven spots for their 5th (#153)
5th round, 153rd overall -- WR Matthew Slater, UCLA
6th round, 197th overall -- LB Bo Ruud, Nebraska

Pats Wanted To Trade Up? | PatsFans.com

The Patriots apparently tried to trade up to the fifth spot, with the intent to take linebacker Vernon Gholston who was selected by the Jets with the 6th overall selection but were turned down by the Kansas City Chiefs.

www.patsfans.com

Thread 'John Clayton: "New England one of the biggest losers on first draft day"'

Apr 27, 2008

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3369696

This guy is an idiot,Mayo would have dropped to 20 or so but it could have been worse if we had picked an OL in the first round or even a Chris Long who is a 4-3 player. - I think we passed with a B- on day one,certainly not so bad.

Atlanta made a few bonehead decisions IMO and Baltimore had a worthless trade in the lower first round and should be held more as losers than NE at this point.

Thread '2008 Draft, According to PatsFans.com...'

Apr 27, 2008

Round 1: Jerod Mayo, OLB, Tenn. Oh sure. Just what we need. Another guy that does everything well, so nobody has to call him inside or outside. Another guy that furthermore isn't Vernon Golston. This will end up just like when we weren't able to get Jonathan Sullivan. Oh well, at least it's not a total waste, unlike our lower round picks, who don't even seem like first-round talents.

Round 2: Bilbo Baggins, CB, Colorado. He's made of glass and he's a hobbit. He's a glass hobbit. Good material to make a bong out of not an NFL corner. He's not tall enough and he's also too short. Speed...

Player Signing Thread 'UDFA Signings Thread'

Apr 27, 2008

So we can post all signings as they become available.

Jets - Danny Woodhead - RB - Chadron State

S

Thread 'SI.com: Pats reached on 3 players'

Apr 27, 2008

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../2008/04/27/steals.reaches/index.html?eref=T1

Terrence Wheatley/CB/New England/2nd round: The 5-9 Wheatley was beaten constantly last season and most projected him into the middle rounds.

Kevin O'Connell/QB/New England/3rd round: O'Connell has the physical dimensions of an NFL passer yet his accuracy is woeful. Scouts feel using a third-round pick on a developmental prospect was a waste.

Matt Slater/WR/New England/5th Round: New England traded up with Tampa Bay in order to acquire Slater and people are still...

Thread 'Seau coming in for a physical, wants 1 more year [merged]'

Apr 27, 2008

Thanks Dan Pires for this update

Seau not looking to graduate...Yet
Foxboro --- Hey, old people need to be productive, too. The Pats had the oldest linebacker corps in the NFL last season, and that didn't stop them from getting to the Super Bowl and going 18-0 leading up to it.

While their first-round pick, Tennessee’s Jerod Mayo will bring down the average, it may be a case where the Pats will average it out by another signing.

Down at the bottom of today’s S-T column about the first day of the draft, there’s a little bit of news about Junior Seau. Seau may have...

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T12:36:43-0400

NCPATSFAN1971 said:
Wow! I never thought about the Patriots picking Tony Eason over Dan Marino. I guess one never knows for sure how a draft is going to turn out . A lot of people liked Eason including Ron Meyer and Raymond Berry and they made the decisions but I liked Grogan and Flutie over Eason any day. And I agree the Second Round that year was much better than the First with picks LB Johnny Rembert, CB Ronnie Lippett and RB Craig James. These guys were great players and I remember watching them play.

If I recall correctly Marino dropped due to rumors/allegations of drug use. Not sure if it was weed or cocaine, but apparently there were teams that took him completely off their board.

jmt57 · 2026-04-27T12:59:54-0400

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 2012 Draft
A Day of Head-Scratching Decisions

April 27, 2012:
The 77th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2012 NFL Draft
Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 2-3

April 27, 2012 was not the greatest of draft days in New England Patriots history. Fortunately the previous day was the opposite, with the Patriots selecting Chandler Jones at #21, and Dont'a Hightower at #25.

- In the second round with the 48th overall pick, the Patriots draft Illinois safety Tavon Wilson.

Tavon Wilson was projected to be a 6th or 7th round draft pick, or possibly go undrafted; he had not even been invited to the NFL draft combine. Wilson started some as a rookie and got a decent amount of playing time (464 defensive snaps, 42%) in 2012, but he wasn't particularly impressive. He was better on special teams, but why draft a ST player so early? If the team wanted a safety they should have traded up (for Harrison Smith or Mark Barron), waited (George Iloka was available in the fifth round; he was a solid starter for five seasons at safety) - or simply selected Wilson later if he was still available in the fifth, sixth or seventh.

The Patriots are known for drafting down or into the following year. If Tavon Wilson was the best available player at that point, then why not trade down here, rather than settling for a special teams ace?

- Patriots traded their second (62nd overall) to Green Bay for a third (90th overall) and a fifth (163rd overall).

In the third round with the 90th overall pick, the Patriots drafted Arkansas DE Jake Bequette.

In his rookie season Bequette was on the field for all of 29 snaps over three games, primarily in garbage time. The next year Bequette was on the field for 11 defensive snaps in a blowout versus the Bucs, plus three more snaps a couple weeks later. He also appeared in 36 special team snaps, with about half coming in the game against the Saints.

In 2014 Bequette was a training camp cut. He was inexplicably re-signed to the practice squad and managed to remain there for the entire season - thus receiving a Super Bowl ring despite never being on the 53-man roster. Somehow Bequette was still not shown the door, as the Pats attempted to convert him to tight end in the 2015 off season. He was mercifully released before the start of the 2015 season, becoming a free agent. None of the 31 other teams ever brought Bequette in for even a workout, ending his pro football career.

Meanwhile the Packers selected Vanderbilt corner Casey Hayward with the draft pick they received from New England. Hayward had immediate impact with six interceptions his rookie season. After that he was named to two pro bowls, once led the NFL in interceptions, and had an 11-year career as a solid starting CB. If the Patriots wanted a linebacker then they could have stayed at #60 and selected either Olivier Vernon or Demario Davis, both of whom were starters for eight seasons. WR T.Y. Hilton was drafted two spots after Bequette, and as for a linebacker there was 7-year starter Nigel Bradham, selected 15 spots after Bequette.

Absolutely horrible day in the history of New England Patriots drafts, though the 2012 draft overall was very good for the team.

Player Bio: Tavon Wilson

Bio blast on the Patriots second round pick, Tavon Wilson.

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Make a Suprising Pick In Round Two, Draft FS Tavon Wilson

The majority of the football world seemed to be stunned on Friday night, as New England made a surprising selection with their first pick of the 2nd round.

www.patsfans.com

Thread 'Serious question: Why did BB finally select LBx2 this year?'

Apr 27, 2012

Here's my question: did BB change his criteria for what a first-round OLB-type needed to be, or is it simply that he didn't see anyone (other than Mayo in 2008) until this year worth drafting?

J

Thread 'How could the front 7 look next year'

Apr 27, 2012

Given so far we have a projected roster of the following

Defensive Line (7): Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Fanene, Chandler Jones, Kyle Love, Andre Carter(assuming he comes back), Brandon Deaderick, Myron Pryor

Outside Linebacker (5): Rob Ninkovich, Dont’a Hightower, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Markell Carter,

Inside Linebacker (4): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White

I can see a lot of versatility there and decent depth

Foe example 3-4 you could go Fanene-Wilfork-Carter/Jones then Ninko, Spikes, Mayo, Hightower. Plus you can use Love at NT and move...

P

DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION Thread 'The Official NFL Draft Day 2 thread'

Apr 27, 2012

Please post your comments regarding tonight's NFL Draft on this thread.
The draft starts at 7PM tonight for rounds 2&3. The Patriots have picks #48 & 62 at this time.

Here are some informational links:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Draft Rankings

NFL Draft - 2012 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

2012 NFL Draft Tracker - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Mike Mayock's top 100 NFL draft prospect rankings - NFL.com

Just as a side note, Mayock has Chandler Jones as #9 and Hightower as #15 overall.

Enjoy tonight's draft, I know that I enjoyed...

Thread 'Do you think Kiper knows what the coaches know?'

Apr 27, 2012

I don't. Seems to me he is totally mystified by some pretty decent picks and touts lots of busts every year.

If he's clueless about Tavon, I'm actually encouraged. Who's to say a few coaches didn't go to Illinois looking for someone else and made a note about this guy?

What exactly does Kyper know about playing football anyway? I don't think BB decides to spend a two on a seventh round pick for no reason, I really don't.

Patriots, Belichick Receive Strong Grades For 2012 NFL Draft Class

Many experts are offering their approval for the work done by Bill Belichick and Co.

www.cbsnews.com

18	290

11	368

20	418

Today In Patriots History April 27, 1982: NE drafts Ken Sims, Andre Tippet, Clayton Weishuhn

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