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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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Trey Flowers #98 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2015 Patriots Draft Steal: Trey Flowers

Much like Thuney’s career, you can’t say the Patriots didn’t maximize Trey Flowers before he was able to get paid on the open market.

Of course he went to Detroit once it was time to drop the bag, by the way. Just … of course that happened.

Chosen in the fourth round, Flowers was explosive by Year 2 in New England, developing into one of the most unheralded pass rushers in the AFC before garnering extra acclaim in his walk year in 2018. In three seasons as a full-time starter with the Pats, Flowers was a model of consistency, putting up 7.0, 6.5, and 7.5 sacks — and living up to his new contract in Year 1 with 7.0 more, to be fair.

Not a Trent Brown-style bust who only does his best work in New England, it turns out.

Also selected in the fourth round by the Pats in 2015? Guard Shaq Mason, who wasn’t a bad selection either. We’ll also shout out LS Joe Cardona out of Navy, a prototypical Belichick head-scratcher in the fifth round who’s managed to stick on the roster and thrive.

Maximize talent in all areas, right?

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