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Why the Patriots forfeited their third-round pick in 2021 NFL Draft

The Patriots have 10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they could have had 11.

New England clearly won't be hurting for draft picks this year, but the franchise did have to forfeit its third-round draft pick. Oddly enough, the Patriots still own a pick in the third round as a compensatory selection. The franchise was rewarded that after the loss of free agents Tom Brady, Jamie Collins, Ted Karras, Danny Shelton and Kyle Van Noy.

But New England's assigned third-round pick was forfeited as punishment by the league for the franchise's role in taping the Bengals' sideline during their Week 14 game against the Browns in 2019.