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

[Ring 6]

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.

2004 team didn’t have him for both afc playoff games and he was hobbled in the SB.
Agree he was a major piece of those 3 rings but I think at least 2004 wins without him. 2003 was a dominating defense with him, hard to say if they had enough without him.
2001 would have struggled really badly without him.

 

[Ring 6]

Hannah is the only answer.

Of Belichick's picks, Seymour. 7x Pro Bowl 3x 1st Team All-Pro, 2000s All-Decade 1st Team, critical player on 3 Super Bowl runs.

Hannah is the best player the patriots have drafted in round 1.
It’s hard to distinguish between that and “player that meant the most toward wonknjnv championships” at this point in time.

 

[Ring 6]

Stanley Morgan belongs on the list.

 

[upstater1]

Let's not forget that the 1978 Patriots are the greatest rushing team of the Super Bowl era, and the greatest rushing team of the last 70 years.

This is quite an accomplishment for Hannah and friends. After all, who were the running backs? Sam Cunningham, Horace Ivory, Andy Johnson.

Almost all of the other teams behind them had superstars at RB like OJ Simpson or Csonka. The closest team of the 21st century is the 2006 Falcons with Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick and Jerious Norwood.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I picked Hightower too for a different reason. He’s a player that you could fit in any system and he looks as comfortable, on the line, off the line, blitz, coverage, zone, man, etc. Also a coach on the field. Not to mention, super clutch. He is what I though Mayo was supposed to be.

That combination of Hightower and Jones was a serious case study of when to trade up.

 

[tom444]

Let's not forget that the 1978 Patriots are the greatest rushing team of the Super Bowl era, and the greatest rushing team of the last 70 years.

This is quite an accomplishment for Hannah and friends. After all, who were the running backs? Sam Cunningham, Horace Ivory, Andy Johnson.

Almost all of the other teams behind them had superstars at RB like OJ Simpson or Csonka. The closest team of the 21st century is the 2006 Falcons with Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick and Jerious Norwood.

Frank Gifford said during a Monday night Patriots game, this team will run all over you. And they could.

 

[Ivan]

They got Wilfork at #21. He deserves to end up in Canton.