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Patriots: Biggest draft steal of every year of the past decade

By Adam Weinrib

James White #28 of the New England Patriots kneels on the sideline prior to the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
James White #28 of the New England Patriots kneels on the sideline prior to the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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Marcus Cannon #61 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2011 Patriots Draft Steal: Marcus Cannon

Instead of selecting the “Lightning and Lightning” (“Fog and Drizzle”?) tandem of Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen here, two relatively underwhelming RBs set up for success, let’s shine a light on Marcus Cannon, who parlayed his fifth-round selection into a nine-year career in New England, starting every game he played from 2016-2019.

Now a Houston Texan, Cannon has plenty of durable playoff performances to hang his hat on, racking up 100% on the snap count during both the Rams and Falcons postseason runs. He went from a fifth-rounder to a reliable force up front. Have to respect it.

Honorable mention here goes to former Buffalo Bills tight end Lee Smith, whom the Patriots also selected in that fifth round. With Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and many others on the roster at the time, New England had no room for Smith as their eighth tight end, and let him loose at final cuts that summer. Buffalo scooped him up, and he went on to snag 10 receiving touchdowns over the course of his career, earning a three-year extension with the Bills for $9 million prior to the 2019 season. Not bad.

Dishonorable mention to Ryan Mallett. Looks like he may have been sliding down draft boards that year for a reason.

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