This evening marks the start of Bill Belichick's 18th NFL Draft as head coach of the New England Patriots, and as the weekend unfolds, he and his staff will get set to add to the list of over 150 draft selections they have made since 2000 while continuing on the path of making history in Foxborough.
Over the course of the Belichick era, Patriots draft selections have helped guide the team to five Super Bowl victories in 15 years, 14 division titles and seven conference championships. As the night soon kicks off and New England's first time on the clock gets closer, here's a look at some of the trends that have developed in Patriots drafts over the years.
Since 2000, the Patriots have drafted eight players from the University of Florida – the most of any college the Patriots have selected from in the Belichick era.
Top 10 schools with the most Patriots Draft picks in the Belichick era:
- Florida (8)
- Arkansas (5)
- Georgia (5)
- Illinois (5)
- Notre Dame (5)
- Alabama (4)
- Miami (Fla.) (4)
- Michigan (4)
- Nebraska (4)
- Rutgers (4)
In total during the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots have drafted:
- 30 defensive backs
- 26 defensive linemen
- 26 offensive linemen
- 20 linebackers
- 15 wide receivers
- 12 tight ends
- 10 running backs
- 9 quarterbacks
- 5 specialists
In 17 NFL Drafts under Bill Belichick, the Patriots have drafted:
- a defensive back in 16, and in 14 straight
- a linebacker in 14, and in 4 of the last 5
- a defensive lineman in 13, and in 5 straight
- an offensive lineman in 13, and in 3 straight
- a cornerback in 12, and in 3 of the last 5
- a wide receiver in 11, and in 4 of the last 5
In the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots have had:
- 15 first round picks
- 23 second round picks
- 20 third round picks
- 24 fourth round picks
- 14 fifth round picks
- 27 sixth round picks
- 30 seventh round picks
The Patriots have made a draft-day trade every year in the Bill Belichick era, except for in 2004.
- Since 2000, the Patriots have engaged in 57 draft-day trades
