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While the Patriots added tight ends Hunter
Henry and Jonnu Smith and wideouts Nelson Agholor and Kendrick
Bourne, among others, Patriots owner Robert Kraft acknowledged
Wednesday that being active in free agency isn't the desired
path toward long-term success.
"In the end, if you want to have a good, consistent, winning
football team, you can't do it in free agency," Kraft said. "You
have to do it through the draft because that's when you're able
to get people of great talent, whether it's Willie McGinest or
Tom Brady. You get them at a price where you can build the team
and be competitive. Once they get to their (second) contract, if
they're superstars, you can only balance so many of them.
.".. Really, the teams who draft well are the ones who will be
consistently good. I don't feel like we've done the greatest job
the last few years and I really hope and believe I've seen a
different approach this year."
The Patriots look to rebound after a 7-9 record last season
resulted in the first time they missed the playoffs since 2008.
They have 10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, which kicks off on
April 29. Barring a trade, their first pick will be No. 15.
As for New England's recent top draft picks, well, judge for
yourself.
In 2017, the Patriots selected defensive end Derek Rivers and
offensive lineman Antonio Garcia in the third round. Both
players are no longer with the team.
The following year's first-round picks, offensive tackle Isaiah
Wynn and running back Sony Michel, have produced inconsistent
results. Wynn has started 18 games over the past two seasons
while Michel rushed for 1,843 yards and 13 touchdowns in his
first two campaigns before being limited to 449 yards and one
score in 2020.
Wideout N'Keal Harry, the team's first-round pick in 2019, has
just 45 catches for 414 yards and four touchdowns in 21 games.
--Field Level Media
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