Who's the best first-round pick in Patriots history?

[IcyPatriot]

Who's the best 1st-round pick in Pats history?

"Even well before Bill Belichick took over the football operation in 2000, for those of us who far too often leave that period of time out of big-picture conversations, there are franchise-altering first-rounders who made their way to New England. Pro Football Hall of Famers. Team Hall of Famers."

"Then once the page was turned on this millennium, Belichick and his staff added to the list of all-time first-rounders. Today's Great Patriots Debate asks, simply, who's the best first-round pick in franchise history? There are loads of options so let's pare them down."

 

[shmessy]

Bill Belichick. Mic drop - End of thread.

The Trade: Was Belichick to New England the Best Deal in League History?

.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Bill Belichick.

End of thread.

The Trade: Was Belichick to New England the Best Deal in League History?

.

Word ..........

 

[shmessy]

Thanks for the pitch, Icy - - felt like a 9th inning first pitch walk off!!! Needed that on a Monday

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Hannah, if you are talking about 1st round picks used to draft Patriots players. The best use of a 1st round pick would be the compensation in trade for BB, as mentioned.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I'm gonna go with the guy who made key plays in all 3 of his SB wins that we probably don't win without. Hightower

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Nice list to pick from. I am kind of torn between law and sey, but ill go with law since he was taken in the lower first while I believe sey was a 4th overall pick. Big difference imo between hitting on someone in the 20s vs top 5.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I picked Bledsoe ... the pick that started it all.
We've had a waiting list since his selection.

 

[Chevy]

I have to go with Hannah. To be called The Greatest OL Ever during that era is really something. That said - pretty damn good list there.

 

[Deus Irae]

Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah
Hannah


Everyone else is battling it out for about 12th.

 

[IcyPatriot]

While I agree with Hannah in terms of talent ...
I looked at it as who was the best 1st round pick for the franchise.
On that note shmessy hit it out of the park.
I wonder if looking at it that way changes anyone's mind?
Different ways of seeing the question I think.

 

[brdmaverick]

That's a quite an impressive list.

I'm biased but my vote goes for good 'ole Drew Bledsoe. It's a nostalgia pick b/c he is the reason I even became a football fan in the first place (I was a middle school kid who had only followed the NBA at that point).

My obsession went from the Celtics to the Patriots. For those who want to call me a bandwagoner, just know that the height of my Celtics fandom was when they were their absolute worst.

I was too young for the Bird and the Big Three......'my Celtics' were Dee Brown, Sherman Douglass, Dino Radja, Eric Montross, Nervous Pervis, and Dana Barros so hopefully you'll cut me some slack.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

While I agree with Hannah in terms of talent ...
I looked at it as who was the best 1st round pick for the franchise.
On that note shmessy hit it out of the park.
I wonder if looking at it that way changes anyone's mind?
Different ways of seeing the question I think.

This is how I see it but I don't want to turn the thread into 10 pages of semantics with "Define...BEST" talk

 

[italian pat patriot]

# 73
I have a Red Throwback Hannah jersey too

2nd Drew Bledsoe

3rd Mc Ginest

 

[Clonamery]

While I agree with Hannah in terms of talent ...
I looked at it as who was the best 1st round pick for the franchise.
On that note shmessy hit it out of the park.
I wonder if looking at it that way changes anyone's mind?
Different ways of seeing the question I think.

Of course the best use of a 1st round pick was the compensation for hiring BB. In terms of talent for a 1st rd picked player, it was Hannah.

 

[SBLIII]

Mike Haynes was an excellent pick

 

[Wozzy]

First round pick implies that it was used in the draft, the pick for BB probably doesn't qualify, but if it does then that is the best pick.

Hannah was the best player, most assuredly the starting guard on the NFL's all time team.

Without Richard Seymour the Pats don't win any rings from 2001-2004, the team was woefully weak along the defensive line in those early days and he was dominant at the biggest position of need. That he was money hungry and finally forced his way out bothers a lot of people but the guy is starting on the NFL's all decade team. He should be in both Hall Of Fames, that he gets no love from the organization is petty.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Of course the best use of a 1st round pick was the compensation for hiring BB. In terms of talent for a 1st rd picked player, it was Hannah.

And then in terms of greatest impact a drafted 1st round player has had on the franchise...Hightower. . I win

 

[PatsDeb]

Oooh. Tough question. A case can be made for many on the list. I picked Ty Law because of his incredible play against Peyton Manning in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003, and for his INT returned for a touchdown in the Super Bowl in 2001. His play in those games lead directly to our first two Super Bowl rings.

 

[SBLIII]

And then in terms of greatest impact a drafted 1st round player has had on the franchise...Hightower. . I win

He didn't necessarily have the highest impact just because he made impact plays in Super Bowls.