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Patriots: Watch Ernie Adams make last draft pick of legendary career

By Jerry Trotta

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 26: Tre Nixon #16 of the UCF Knights catches a touchdown pass against Linwood Crump #11 of the Temple Owls in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on October 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The UCF Knights defeated the Temple Owls 63-21. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 26: Tre Nixon #16 of the UCF Knights catches a touchdown pass against Linwood Crump #11 of the Temple Owls in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on October 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The UCF Knights defeated the Temple Owls 63-21. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots came out as one of the biggest winners of this year’s draft, as they achieved incredible value with almost all of their picks, specifically with the selections of defensive tackle Christian Barmore and edge rusher Ronnie Perkins in the second and third rounds.

As encouraged as fans were following the draft’s conclusion on Saturday, however, they were also justified being a little emotional.

After all, it marked the end of longtime football research director Ernie Adams’ tenure with the franchise.

In his post-draft press conference, Bill Belichick announced that Adams, who first joined the Patriots back in 1975, would no longer be involved in the draft process — and possibly with the organization as a whole — starting next year.

In an awesome behind-the-scenes video, the Patriots honored Adams with a tribute before he made the final pick of his esteemed career.

Let’s just say fans should be hoping former UCF wide receiver Tre Nixon becomes a Foxborough legend down the road.

Ernie Adams making his last draft pick for the Patriots was emotional.

"“I just want to take a moment to recognize Ernie,” Belichick said in the Patriots’ draft room before their final pick. “We’ll do this at a more formal time later, but Ernie’s career, especially in the draft room, is legendary. It started in 1976 through all the great players with the Patriots.“Ernie, I just want to thank you. As your final draft in the final round, as we go to the final pick, it’s yours. Thank you for all of your contributions, not only here but to the game and to the process of scouting.”"

The last year or so has marked a transition period for the entire Patriots organization, and Adams’ departure just crystallizes that point. While the 68-year-old didn’t spend the entirety of his NFL career in New England, he did spend most of it with Belichick.

After leaving the franchise in 1978, Adams reconnected with Belichick on the Giants, where the latter was serving as a special teams assistant. From there, they also teamed up in Cleveland before rejoining the Patriots together in 2000, when Adams adopted the research director’s role he’s held for the last two decades.

Though Belichick has garnered most of the acclaim for the Patriots’ dynasty, Adams left his fingerprints all over the team’s sustained period of success.

Perhaps the longtime draft expert’s greatest contributions were the hand he had in the picks of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stanley Morgan, Mike Haynes and David Givens.

While it remains unclear if Adams is walking away from the franchise on a permanent basis or is simply ending his role in the draft process, the fact he’s handing over the football research director reins marks the end of a wildly successful era in Foxborough.

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