Top 5 Patriots Top-Ten Draft Picks in Franchise History

With Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots clinched a top-ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. If the Patriots keep their pick, it would mark the second time they’ve drafted in the top ten in consecutive seasons in franchise history. New England selected Drake Maye third overall in 2024.

New England drafted a player among the top-ten picks 14 times since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. This includes four players drafted first overall in their respective drafts. Some, such as Jim Plunkett (No. 1 in 1970) and Irving Fryar (No. 1 in 1984) enjoyed their best seasons after leaving New England. Others remained Patriots throughout their entire careers.

The Kraft family and current Patriots fans alike hope Drake Maye eventually becomes the greatest draft pick in franchise history. But 11 games into his NFL career is too early to put Maye on any lists of the franchise’s all-time greats. Tom Brady himself would not have been under consideration for this type of list so early in his career.

Also Read – Top 5 Patriots Trade Partners for the No. 2 Pick in the NFL Draft

Maye is not the only Patriots high pick to get off to an impressive start in his NFL career. Terry Glenn caught 90 passes for 1,132 yards in 1996, helping New England reach Super Bowl 31. Current head coach Jerod Mayo won the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year and appeared headed for a Hall of Fame career before being derailed by injuries.

But which Patriots drafted in the top ten went on to have the best careers for the franchise?

A look at the Top 5 Patriots top-ten draft picks in franchise history:

5. Drew Bledsoe

The quarterback who followed Bledsoe makes it easy for some to forget how good of a player he was for New England. The Patriots went a combined 9-39 in the three seasons before making Drew Bledsoe the first overall selection of the 1993 NFL Draft. New England won their second AFC Championship three years later and was off to Super Bowl 31 to play the Green Bay Packers. In nine seasons, he led the Patriots to a 63-60 regular season record and 3-3 in the playoffs.

The Patriots traded Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills after the 2001 season. He lost his starting job to Brady that season but came on in relief during the AFC Championship Game to help New England beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. He made three Pro Bowl teams and passed for 29,657 yards and 166 touchdowns with the New England Patriots.

4. Willie McGinest

The first player drafted by the franchise under Robert Kraft’s owners was Willie McGinest, the fourth overall pick in 1994. The edge defender from USC players his first 12 seasons in New England. His 78.0 sacks rank second in franchise history behind only Hall of Famer Andre Tippett. The two-time Pro Bowl selection played his best when it mattered most.

McGinest is the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason sacks with 16.0. This includes the single-game record (4.5) set in the 2005 Wild Card against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Willie McGinest was a key member of teams that won four AFC Championships and three Super Bowls in New England.

3. Mike Haynes

Haynes went fifth overall in the 1976 NFL Draft and immediately became a difference-maker in New England. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, creating 11 turnovers via interception (eight) or fumble recovery (three). He served as the Patriots primary punt returner, returning two for touchdowns.

During Haynes’ seven seasons with the Patriots, he made the Pro Bowl and was honored as a second-team All-Pro six times each. The lone exception was 1981, when he played only eight games for a 2-14 team. He left New England with 28 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. His 89-yard punt return in 1976 stood as a franchise record for 34 years until broken by Julian Edelman (94) in 2010. The Patriots retired No. 40 in his honor.

2. Richard Seymour

One could flip a coin to determine the order of Mike Haynes and Richard Seymour on this list. Both are Pro Football Hall of Fame members who began their careers as Patriots and finished them as Raiders. Seymour received the nod on this list due to one additional season in New England and more team success. The New England Patriots drafted him with the sixth overall selection of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Seymour earned five Pro Bowl trips during his New England years. He was honored as a first-team All-Pro three times and second-team once. Richard Seymour finished second in the 2003 NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. Most importantly, he helped the Patriots win four AFC Championships and three Super Bowls. Seymour recorded 39.0 sacks in New England, but stats do not tell the story of his dominance. His greatest ability was occupying multiple blockers, allowing the Patriots’ defense to play 10-vs-9 or even 10-vs-8.

1. John Hannah

In 1973, the Patriots took an offensive guard from Alabama with the fourth pick of the NFL Draft. John Hannah became the first player to play his entire career with the New England Patriots and get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is not often an offensive guard becomes franchise player, though that is exactly what happened with Hannah in New England.

John Hannah was selected to nine Pro Bowls, including his final eight NFL seasons. He was honored as an All-Pro ten times, with seven first-team selections and three second-team selections. In his final season, 1985, he helped lead the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance. Hannah made the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1970s and 1980s. He was a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, selected in 2019.