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Vote: Who was the best third-round pick in Patriots history? 04.12.11 at 12:57 am ET
By Christopher Price

Curtis Martin (AP)

With the NFL draft on the horizon, we’re going to look back at the Patriots’ best draft picks by round, with the four best selections the franchise has made in each round. We’ve already put the best of the eighth through the fourth round in the spotlight. Now, we’ve got the best of the third round, a group that includes a pair of undeniable impact players that will likely make this a two-team race. Vote for your favorite:

Tedy Bruschi: 1996, 86th overall. This undersized defensive lineman out of Arizona made the switch to linebacker when he arrived in New England, and became a defensive stalwart with the Patriots. A Pro Bowler, he was part of five AFC Champions and three Super Bowl champions, and averaged more than 50 tackles a season over the course of his career. But even more than his on-field numbers, his attitude and intensity made him one of the most popular players in the history of New England sports — in 13 seasons in New England, he became one of the players most identified with the success of the Patriots.

Curtis Martin: 1995, 74th overall. Martin, a product of Pitt, only spent three seasons in New England, but ended up as one of the most prolific backs in franchise history, finishing with 3,799 rushing yards (fourth-best in team history). He still holds the franchise marks for most rushing attempts in a season (368), most rushing attempts in a game (40) and most rushing touchdowns in a season (14) and a game (three). In 11 seasons with the Patriots and Jets, Martin accrued 14,101 career rushing yards, good for a place in the Top 10 in NFL history. (Rather surprisingly, last year he was the first of the NFL’s Top 10 career rushers not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.)

Clayton Weishuhn: 1982, 60th overall. The Angelo State product was part of a brilliant coterie of New England linebackers in the early 1980s that included Andre Tippett and Steve Nelson. Weishuhn, an inside linebacker, played five seasons with the Patriots, and finished with a team-record 229 tackles in 1983.

Carl Garrett: 1969, 58th overall. A running back out of New Mexico Highlands, Garrett played four years with the Boston/New England Patriots and had 2,235 rushing yards in his time in New England. (A versatile offensive option, he also had 107 catches for 1,158 receiving yards with the Patriots as well.) A Pro Bowler, he also worked as a return man, finishing his rookie season with a 28.3 average on kick returns.

Just missing the cut: Ellis Hobbs (2005, 84th overall); Kevin Turner (1992, 71st overall); Marv Cook (1989, 63rd overall); Robert Perryman (1987, 79th overall); Stephen Starring (1983, 74th overall); Steve McMichael (1980, 73rd).

Vote: Who was the best third-round pick in Patriots history?

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Read More: 2011 NFL Draft, Carl Garrett, Clayton Weishuhn, Curtis Martin Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Billy Sullivan

    I love Teddy Bruschi, but Martin is a Hall-of-Famer. So, unless we are judging who is the best pick for the Patriots, Martin is the clear winner.

    Chris, by the way, I really like this feature. If you could do more of this as you go on, I think it would be very popular for you. If you look at some of the popular features on NFL network and MLB network, the lists concept is really popular. So, you should do this with other topics. I think it will be very helpful for making this site more popular. Well, that is my two cents. Good luck and keep up the good work…Billy

  • http://www.allthingspats.blogspot.com AllThingsPats

    Tedy Bruschi gets my vote.

    I’m hesitant to vote for Martin because to me the vote is about how well the players performed for the Patriots, not in the NFL. I understand he has HoF numbers, but he was with the Pats for only three years. Granted they were very good years, but it was still only 48 games he played with the Pats. If we’re strictly looking at how the players did in the NFL, then the best 4th round pick was Rich Gannon and the best 7th round pick was Fran Tarkenton – and I doubt many would agree with those choices.

    The third round has not been kind to the Patriots during the Belichick era, with the exception of 2005 when Ellis Hobbs and Nick Kaczur were selected. In the other years since BB took over the Pats have drafted JR Redmond, Brock Williams, David Thomas, Shawn Crable, Kevin O’Connell, Brandon Tate, Tyrone McKenzie and Taylor Price. Based on that track record maybe the Pats should look to trade a 3rd for a 2012 2nd.

  • Insert name here:_______

    Martin had a better career, but 75% of his career was with the Jets, Bruschi gets my vote, he had a bigger impact for the Patriots, where Martin had a bigger impact for another team. This goes along the same line of thinking as AllThingsPats, my vote is strictly based on production in a Pats uniform

  • Vivian

    You’ve got to be joking, Tedy rules.

  • http://Enteryourwebsite... JTTGoPats

    It is all about the bling.. How did Martin do with Tuna? Benedict Martin.. Bruschi 3. Martin 0

  • http://www.patspulpit.com Rich Hill

    Voted for Bruschi. Martin’s the best overall 3rd round pick, Brushi was the best 3rd round pick for the Patriots- and that’s what makes him the best 3rd round pick in Patriots’ history. Steve McMichael could pass Bruschi as a better 3rd round pick if you think of all of the NFL. However, when looking at “Patriots history”, Bruschi wins.

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