The method has worked well for his entire 17-year tenure with the Patriots, but that doesn’t mean Bill Belichick can’t switch it up every now and then.
Usually, the Pats coach likes to let the rest of the league go hard after established veterans through trades and free agency while he takes a different tack. But this offseason was a departure.
It was not a draft of high yield for the Pats, who ended up selecting just four players. Belichick dealt away every one of his original 2017 picks to land wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive lineman Kony Ealy, tight end Dwayne Allen and other pieces.