The New England Patriots investing high draft capital in their wide receiver position has not happened a lot during Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach and de facto general manager. Only eight times since he took over in 2000 did the team invest what can be classified as an early-round selection — i.e. Rounds 1-3 — in the position.
A majority of those picks did not work out. Whereas Deion Branch (2002) looked good, Bethel Johnson (2003), Chad Jackson (2006), Brandon Tate (2009), Taylor Price (2010), Aaron Dobson (2013) and N’Keal Harry (2019) became either role players or major busts.