Bill Belichick still surprised Patriots landed Vince Wilfork in draft

The Patriots plucking Tom Brady out of the sixth round (199th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft has become a regular talking point when it comes to retelling the origins of the team’s two-decade dynasty.

But New England’s unequaled stretch of success was also built off of Bill Belichick and his staff hitting home runs across multiple drafts — unearthing All-Pro talent and cornerstone players further down draft leaderboards.

Even in the higher rounds, New England managed to add some game-changing talent with those final picks in the first round. 

Speaking on the “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday, Belichick admitted that even he has been surprised over the years about the number of Patriots stars who fell to them unexpectedly when they landed on the clock. 

“Every year is different and you really don’t know,” Belichick said. “When you’re picking at the end of the (first round of the) draft, … you tell me who’s going to be there and I can tell you what we’re going to do. You just really don’t know because there’s so many teams in front of you. It’s just impossible to predict.”

The future Hall of Fame coach added: “Did I ever think we would draft Vince Wilfork? I thought there was no chance he’d be on the board when we picked. I didn’t think (Dont’a) Hightower would be there. We traded up and got him. I didn’t think Chandler Jones would be there. We traded up and got him.”

The Patriots managed to add Wilfork to an already championship roster during the 2004 NFL Draft, selecting the gifted defensive lineman out of the University of Miami with the 21st overall pick.

Wilfork went on to become one of the best nose tackles of his generation, winning two Super Bowls in New England to go along with five total All-Pro selections.

Hightower, the 25th overall pick out of Alabama in the 2012 NFL Draft, played an essential role in three Super Bowl titles with New England, while Chandler Jones (pick No. 21, 2012) has recorded 112 sacks in his NFL career.  

“Sometimes, you see somebody falling and you say, ‘OK, it’s worth it to trade up and get the guy,” Belichick noted. “Other times, you wait and see who slides through. … I think the fifth-year option is an issue at the end of the first round for the high-priced positions. Quarterback, which is what the (Baltimore) Ravens did when they took Lamar Jackson. They traded into our spot at No. 32 to take Jackson and got the fifth-year option on him. Cornerback, offensive tackle and maybe even pass-rushers.”

Belichick, who has been a familiar face in NFL Draft war rooms for over 50 years, will bring his insight on “The Pat McAfee Show” as an analyst during the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.