Patriots Top Five Best All-Time Draft Classes

#5 – Patriots Draft Class of 1977:

During the Chuck Fairbanks era he was always known as a superb talent evaluator and many of his drafts were among the top classes in the Patriots history. The 1977 Patriots class has four impact players in the first four picks that served the team well thru the success of the late 1970s and into the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in the ‘80s.

Raymond Clayborn, DB, Texas 1^st Round 16^th Overall pick: Clayborn was one of the best, most dominant cornerbacks in Patriots team history. Coincidentally, he is a finalist again this season for the team Hall of Fame. Clayborn had a long career going from 1977 – 1989 and was remarkably durable, setting the Patriots record for consecutive starts at 161.

He still shares the Patriots record for interceptions (36), with Ty Law which he returned for 555 yards and a touchdown. He was also a stellar kick returner, returning 57 for 1538 yards and three touchdowns. Clayborn led the Pats in interceptions four times (1979-80, 84, 88). He was a three-time Pro Bowler (1983, ’85-86); as well as a member of the Patriots 35^th Anniversary Team.

Stanley Morgan, WR, Tennessee 1st Round 25^th Overall:
Stanley “Steamer” is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, inducted in 2007 and was a classic deep field burner although he played in a very run-heavy era with the Patriots.

Despite this, Morgan still put up some very impressive numbers. He played in 180 games from 1977 to 1989 and caught 534 receptions and holds the franchise record with 10,352 receiving yards with an incredible 19.4 yards per catch average for his career with 67 touchdowns.

Morgan had 38 career 100-yard receiving games in his career and was selected to four Pro Bowls (1979-80, 86, 87). He was a key component of the Patriots AFC Championship in 1985.He’s a member of the Patriots 35th Anniversary Team in 1994, the Patriots Team of the Century in 2000.

Horace Ivory, RB, Oklahoma 2nd Round 44^th Overall:
Part of the Sooner pipeline during Fairbanks’ tenure, the 6’0, 197-pound Ivory played for the Patriots for five seasons before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks during the 1981 season.

He played in 58 games with 12 starts and rushed for 1,336 yards on 329 carries and 14 touchdowns. He also had 49 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns.

In 1980 Ivory became the Patriots primary kick returner and led the AFC with a 27.6-yard kick return average, finishing with 45 kickoff returns for 1,191 yards, including a 98 yard return for a touchdown against the then Baltimore Colts.

Don Hasselbeck, TE, Colorado 2nd round 52^nd Overall:
Hasselbeck was a big tight end at 6’7, 245 pounds and played 86 games in seven seasons for New England. He totaled 99 receptions for 1,444 yards (14.6 yards per catch average) and 15 touchdowns.

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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