Patriots: Biggest draft steal of every year of the past decade
By Adam Weinrib
2013 Patriots Draft Steal: Logan Ryan
Jamie Collins was also a fairly nice get for the 2013 Patriots in the second round, you have to admit! This draft, in particular, gives plenty of ammo to the notion that Bill Belichick can find talent at any point in the proceedings.
As the top pick of the draft for New England, though, we feel slightly odd calling Collins a steal. We’ll go one round deeper and pinpoint Logan Ryan, another long-time starter on the most consistent defense in a football, and a lockdown option from Belichick’s beloved Rutgers pipeline.
Ryan had a spectacular rookie season immediately after being plugged into Belichick’s machine, posting insane counting numbers with five interceptions, capped by a 79-yard return for a touchdown. He then racked up two, four, and two picks the next three years with New England before being allowed to bolt to Tennessee … where he went two straight years without an interception. Belichick always knows.
Alright, fine, at the age of 29, he’s been somewhat resurgent with the New York Giants as a leader and free safety. Belichick’s a clairvoyant, but not five years down the line.
Because the team pulled the plug on Collins, selling high midway through 2016 and jettisoning him to Cleveland, Ryan has one more Super Bowl ring in Foxborough as well. Both men saw their skill sets maximized by Belichick, but one caused more trouble than he was worth, ultimately. Advantage Ryan, in many ways.