New England Patriots: Top 10 Draft-Day Decisions in Franchise History

As the 2009 NFL Draft creeps up on us, I began wondering who would round out a list of the 10 best draft decisions in Patriots history. Some of the first names to go through my mind were Tom Brady, John Hannah, Stanley Morgan, and Randy Moss.

With a little further research, I have my final list. Voilà!

10. DE/OLB Willie McGinest (1994, round one)

Selected with the fourth overall pick of the 1994 draft, McGinest was a monster defensive end and linebacker for the Patriots for 12 seasons. In his Patriots career, McGinest compiled 269 tackles and 78 sacks.

McGinest was on board with the Patriots for all three Super Bowl championship victories before leaving for the Cleveland Browns after the 2005 season. In his 12-year tenure with the Patriots, McGinest missed only 31 games.

McGinest was a workhorse, and he was one of the best defensive players of the past decade for the Patriots, anchoring some very talented defensive teams.

9. QB Steve Grogan (1975, round five)

Grogan, a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, played from 1975 to 1990. During those 16 seasons, Grogan established himself as one of the Patriots' all-time leading passers with 1,879 completions in 3,593 attempts, 26,886 yards, and 182 touchdowns. Grogan also rushed for 2,164 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Grogan also had a modest 69.6 career passer rating, with 208 interceptions.

Overall, Grogan is known as one of the toughest players in Patriots history.

8. LB Steve Nelson (1974, round two)

Nelson was the nucleus of the Patriots' defense for 14 years from 1974 to 1987. Nelson was voted to the 1981, 1985, and 1986 Pro Bowls, and had 1,776 career tackles.

Nelson led the team in tackles in eight of his 14 seasons with the team, and notched 100 tackles in nine different seasons.

His 1984-1985 season was by far his best, recording 207 tackles en route to his second Pro Bowl selection.

7. LB Andre Tippett (1982, round two)

Tippett, who played for the Patriots for 12 seasons, is the current Patriots record holder with 100 career sacks. Tippett was also one of only two Patriots ever to make five consecutive Pro Bowl games, from 1984 to 1988.

Tippett holds another franchise record, recording 18.5 sacks in the 1984 season.

Tippett is not only a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

6. WR Stanley Morgan (1977, round one)

In the 1977 draft, Morgan was taken 25th overall out of Tennessee, the second of two first-round draft picks for the Patriots that year. Stanley Morgan ended up becoming one of the best wide receivers in Patriots history.

In his 13 seasons, Morgan hauled in 534 receptions for 10,352 yards and 67 touchdowns.

Morgan's hard work paid off, as he made trips to the Pro Bowl in 1979, 1980, 1986, and 1987. Morgan was also a key member of the 1985 offense that made the Super Bowl.

5. QB Drew Bledsoe (1993, round one)

Bledsoe was taken first overall out of Washington State in 1993, and rightfully so. Bledsoe spent the bulk of his career with the Patriots, but moved on to the Buffalo Bills and then the Dallas Cowboys after the emergence of Tom Brady.

For his career, Bledsoe finished with 44,611 yards, 251 touchdowns, and a 77.1 passer rating. With the Patriots, Bledsoe passed for 29,657 yards, 166 touchdowns, and an 85.3 passer rating.

With Mo Lewis' vicious tackle of Bledsoe in Week 2 of the 2001 season—which some Patriots called the hardest hit they'd ever heard—all hope was seemingly lost. But, with the emergence of Tom Brady, Bledsoe was all but forgotten.

4. WR Randy Moss (2007, round four, acquired via trade from Oakland Raiders)

This was probably the most lopsided trade in recent memory, as the Patriots sent a single fourth-round draft pick to Oakland for wide receiver Randy Moss.

The following season, Moss caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards, an NFL-record 23 touchdowns, and an average of 15.2 yards per catch.

In 2008, with the absence of Tom Brady, Moss experienced a slight dip in his numbers. However, he still managed 69 catches, 1,008 yards, and 11 touchdowns. This marked the ninth time in his career that Moss compiled 1,000 yards for the season.

3. DB Michael Haynes (1976, round one)

Arizona State cornerback Michael Haynes was selected with the fifth overall pick of the 1976 draft. Haynes turned out to be, without a doubt in my mind, the best defensive player in Patriots history.

Haynes only played for the Patriots from 1976 to 1982, but it was enough time for him to set some lofty stats. Haynes became the second all-time punt returner in Patriots history, as well as fifth on the Patriots' all-time list with 28 interceptions.

To top that all off, Haynes was named to six Pro Bowls. Icing on the cake: Haynes is one of four New England Patriots enshrined in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. G John Hannah (1973, round one)

John Hannah was once a fourth overall selection in the NFL Draft. Now, Hannah finds himself in Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hannah's career lasted from 1973 through 1985, and he remained with the Patriots for each one of those seasons.

Hannah made nine Pro Bowl teams over the span of his career, missing only five games the whole time. Hannah was the anchor of an offensive line that helped the Patriots rush for an NFL record 3,165 yards in 1978.

Hannah is also widely considered one of the best guards ever to play the game.

1. QB Tom Brady (2000, round six)

Tom Brady has been, at the risk of sounding blasphemous, a savior to the Patriots. After many disappointing seasons throughout Patriots history, Tom Terrific has come through for New England, bringing three Super Bowls home to the Pats.

Despite a 2008 knee injury and the emergence of Matt Cassel, Brady has job security for 2009, and is still widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today.

Brady had an amazing 2007, throwing 50 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

After emerging for the Patriots in 2001, Brady has passed for 26,446 yards, 197 touchdowns, and a spectacular 92.9 passer rating.