It was quite a wait for anyone watching Friday night’s coverage of Rounds Two and Three of the 2017 NFL Draft, with fans in New England forced to wait a little longer after Bill Belichick did Belicick-like things on draft night.<\/p>\n
The Patriots didn’t have a second round pick and just as it seemed the they were poised to make their first selection of the night, Belichick traded out of the 72nd overall spot with Tennessee, shipping off a 6th-round pick along with their selection while picking up a 4th-round pick. \u00a0They essentially moved back 11 spots with the trade with the Titans, who selected Western Kentucky receiver Tawaun Taylor with New England’s #72 pick.<\/p>\n
When the Patriots did\u00a0finally get back on the clock at 10:25pm ET Friday night, former Patriot Andre Tippett came out and announced the selection, with New England going with Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers with their first pick of 2017.\u00a0 Prior to the selection, Mike Reiss predicted a “line of scrimmage”\u00a0pick<\/strong><\/a>, and Rivers certainly looks like one who will make some noise up front.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at Tippet announcing Rivers’ selection:<\/p>\n .@AndreTippett<\/a> announces the #Patriots<\/a> first selection, DE Derek Rivers from Youngstown State: pic.twitter.com\/3JjCVZgwMj<\/a><\/p>\n — New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> (@Patriots) April 29, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n