Derek Rivers Becomes 1st Player Drafted by Super Bowl Champion Patriots in 2017

After a prolonged wait, the New England Patriots finally made a pick at the 2017 NFL draft. The Super Bowl champions used the No. 83 pick on Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers during Friday's third round:

Rivers set Youngstown State's school record with 41 sacks during his career, including 14 in a breakout senior season. Listed at 6'4" and 248 pounds, Rivers should slot in as an edge rusher for the Patriots, either as a down lineman or as a stand-up linebacker on the outside.

"I am a pass rusher first but, I am also styled on the run. I can set the edge and my versatility helps me be able to cover. I tried to show a little of that at the senior bowl. I can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3," Rivers told Shannon Shepherd of News 4.

The Patriots, fresh off their second championship in three years, have seemingly had little use for this draft. They sent their first-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Brandin Cooks, and added Kony Ealy and a third-round selection in exchange for their second-round selection.

When finally approaching their first pick at No. 72, the Patriots flipped that pick to move back in a deal with the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee sent them its third-round pick (No. 83) and a fourth rounder (No. 124) in exchange for No. 72 and a sixth (No. 200).

The Patriots have long been active on the trade market during the draft, often moving back when players their fans wanted were still on the board. But waiting until No. 83 was even a bit extreme for Bill Belichick, who has consistently been able to pluck under-appreciated talent out of these middle rounds.

Rivers is a seemingly good value who fits into the Belichick defensive mold, so perhaps we'll look back and see him as someone who should have gone in Round 1 or 2.