This will be the first year since 1974 that the Patriots do not have a first-round draft choice. They will make their first pick in the second round at number 46. The Patriots selected at 46 last year and chose running back Kevin Faulk, who was tied among rookies with a 24.2 kickoff return average. Steeler hall of fame linebacker Jack Lambert (1974) and Cowboys Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen were both selected with the 46thpick. Below is a look at the history of the 46thpick:
| Year | Team | Player Selected | Pos | School |
| 1999 | Patriots | Kevin Faulk | RB | LSU |
| 1998 | Tennessee | Samari Role | DB | Florida State |
| 1997 | Tennessee | Joey Kent | WR | Tennessee |
| 1996 | San Francisco | Israel Ifeanyi | DE | Southern California |
| 1995 | Dallas | Sherman Williams | RB | Alabama |
| 1994 | Dallas | Larry Allen | T | Sonoma State |
| 1993 | Dallas | Kevin Williams | WR | Miami |
| 1992 | Arizona | Tony Sacca | QB | Penn State |
| 1991 | Pittsburgh | Jeff Graham | WR | Ohio State |
| 1990 | Washington | Andre Collins | LB | Penn State |
| 1989 | New Orleans | Robert Massey | DB | N. Carolina Central |
| 1988 | St. Louis | Willie Anderson | WR | UCLA |
| 1987 | Tennessee | Walter Johnson | LB | Louisiana Tech |
| 1986 | N.Y. Giants | Erik Howard | NT | Washington St. |
| 1985 | N.Y. Giants | Stacy Robinson | WR | North Dakota St. |
| 1984 | Denver | Andre Townsend | DE | Mississippi |
| 1983 | Philadelphia | Jody Schulz | LB | East Carolina |
| 1982 | Kansas City | Clavin Daniels | LB | North Carolina |
| 1981 | Detroit | Curtis Green | DE | Alabama State |
| 1980 | Chicago | Matt Suhey | RB | Penn State |
| 1979 | Arizona | Calvin Favron | LB | S.E. Louisiana |
| 1978 | St. Louis | Stan Johnson | DT | Tennessee State |
| 1977 | Baltimore | Tom Skladany | P | Ohio State |
| 1976 | Detroit | David Hill | TE | Texas A&M-Kingsville |
| 1975 | St. Louis | James Germany | RB | New Mexico State |
| 1974 | Pittsburgh | Jack Lambert | LB | Kent State |
| 1973 | Dallas | Golden Richards | WR | Hawaii |
| 1972 | Baltimore | Jack Milbren | DB | Oklahoma |
| 1971 | Green Bay | Virgil Robinson | RB | Grambling |
| 1970 | N.Y. Jets | Rich Caster | TE | Jackson State |
| Positional Breakdown Since 1970: 6 – Linebacker 6 – Wide Receiver 5 – Defensive Lineman 5 – Running Back 3 – Defensive Back 2 – Tight Ends | School Breakdown 3 – Penn State 2 – Ohio State |
| Year | Team | Player Selected | Pos | School |
| 1999 | Patriots | Kevin Faulk | RB | LSU |
Offensive Statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | Kickoff Returns | |||||||
| GP/GS | No | Yds | Td | No | Yds | TD | No | Yds | TD |
| 11/2 | 67 | 227 | 1 | 12 | 98 | 1 | 39 | 943 | 0 |
The Patriots second selection will come in the third round at number 76. They have never selected in the 76thposition since 1970. Some of the players selected with the 76thpick include Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler, who was chosen by the Colts in 1988 and wide receiver John Taylor, who was selected by the 49ers in 1986. Chandler went on to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 1998 and Taylor played in three Super Bowls during his career. Below is a look at the history of the 76th pick:
| Year | Team | Player Selected | Pos | School |
| 1999 | Cleveland | Marquis Smith | DB | California |
| 1998 | Seattle | Ahman Green | RB | Nebraska |
| 1997 | Cincinnati | Rod Payne | C | Michigan |
| 1996 | Detroit | Ryan Stewart | DB | Georgia Tech |
| 1995 | Buffalo | Marlon Kerner | DB | Ohio State |
| 1994 | Arizona | Rich Braham | G | West Virginia |
| 1993 | Pittsburgh | Andre Hastings | WR | Georgia |
| 1992 | San Francisco | Brian Bollinger | G | North Carolina |
| 1991 | Washington | Ricky Ervins | RB | Southern California |
| 1990 | Washington | Mohammed Elewonibi | G | Brigham Young |
| 1989 | Philadelphia | Robert Drummond | RB | Syracuse |
| 1988 | Indianapolis | Chris Chandler | QB | Washington |
| 1987 | Cincinnati | Leonard Bell | DB | Indiana |
| 1986 | San Francisco | John Taylor | WR | Delaware State |
| 1985 | Dallas | Crawford Ker | G | Florida |
| 1984 | Seattle | Fredd Young | LB | New Mexico State |
| 1983 | Miami | Charles Benson | DE | Baylor |
| 1982 | New Orleans | John Krimm | DB | Notre Dame |
| 1981 | Buffalo | Mike Mosley | WR | Texas A&M |
| 1980 | Tampa Bay | Scot Brantley | LB | Florida |
| 1979 | Dallas | Doug Cosbie | TE | Santa Clara |
| 1978 | Pittsburgh | Craig Colquitt | P | Tennessee |
| 1977 | Cincinnati | Mike Voight | RB | North Carolina |
| 1976 | Detroit | John Woodcock | DT | Hawaii |
| 1975 | Oakland | Louis Carter | RB | Maryland |
| 1974 | LA Rams | Al Oliver | T | UCLA |
| 1973 | Pittsburgh | Roger Bernhardt | G | Kansas |
| 1972 | Philadelphia | Bobby Majors | DB | Tennessee |
| 1971 | Minnesota | Eddie Hackett | WR | Alcorn State |
| 1970 | Oakland | Gerald Irons | DL | Maryland State |
| Positional Breakdown Since 1970: 7 – Offensive Lineman 6 – Defensive Back 5 – Running Back 4 – Wide Receiver 3 – Defensive Line 2 – Linebacker | School Breakdown 2 – Florida 2 – North Carolina 2 – Tennessee |
| Year | Team | Player Selected | Pos | School |
| 1999 | Cleveland | Marquis Smith | DB | California |
Defensive Statistics
| Tackles | Special Teams | ||||
| GP/GS | TT | S | A | PD | Tackles |
| 16-2 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 12 |
