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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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Deatrich Wise Jr. #91 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

2017 Patriots Draft Steal: Deatrich Wise

No pick before the third round, some problems for the 2017 still-Deflategate-targeted New England Patriots.

Though Deatrich Wise hasn’t quite progressed as they might’ve expected him to, he racked up 5.0 and 4.5 sacks in his first two NFL seasons and has shown that he can be a viable pass rusher if schemed correctly.

Unlike his draft mate Derek Rivers, Wise has been able to fend off injuries and establish himself as an occasionally-impactful NFL player — not elite by any means, but a solid spark for a fourth-rounder.

The league blatantly tried to stamp out the Patriots’ contention window this time around, stealing top picks from their quiver, and docking them an extra selection in this draft after already taking a 2016 first-round pick as punishment. First- and third-round picks were then dealt for Brandin Cooks, and a second-rounder went to Carolina for Kony Ealy. With the cabinet all but depleted, New England still found a contributor.

And oh yeah — Wise posted two sacks in a blowout playoff victory over the Tennessee Titans that postseason to kickstart a run to the Super Bowl.

You can take our draft picks, but you cannot take our freedom.

Yeah, sorry, we tried to puff our chests. This draft was bad.

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