NFL Draft: Robert Kraft, Patriots Looking to Repeat History?

The New England Patriots' 11 NFL Draft selections ties for third-most in the league this season.

On this day 23 years ago, the New England Patriots selected arguably the greatest NFL Draft steal in league history.  

The draft pick? A four-year quarterback out of Michigan named Tom Brady, who'd go down as the NFL's most relevant "Mr. Irrelevant" ever. 

And while it'll be difficult to replicate six Super Bowl victories, 19 Division Titles for New England and 649 passing touchdowns, the Patriots have a chance to build a contender in this month's draft.

New England owner Robert Kraft spoke on the success his franchise has had building a successful roster through the draft. 

“One of my beliefs … to be good in this league, you’ve got to draft well,” Kraft said. “Given the salary cap, and the value of people you draft, as opposed to hiring them as free agents, that’s where your greatest return comes from."

Heading into this month's draft with 11 selections, tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams for third-most in the league, New England's options are endless. Especially over the third day, where eight of those 11 picks will fall in rounds four through seven. 

“So, we have a number of picks this year," Kraft said. "We have done a pretty good job of drafting, especially when we won the Super Bowls. We always seemed to have 12 or 15 players who were really products of the draft. When you get them on rookie contracts, when you’re dealing with the salary cap, it allows you to compete better.”

Already making a number of moves this offseason, such as signing tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Patriots are hopeful, but not depending solely on their free agent acquisitions. 

“I look to the addition of draft choices to make a difference,” Kraft said. “Just spending money two-three years ago, I think we spent more cash than any team or the two or three teams in the history of spending, and it didn’t get the value we hoped it would. So I think having a solid draft is the foundation to building a team and sustaining it.”

New England looks like build on its 8-9 campaign from a season ago. 

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