The Patriots have missed badly on some prominent attempts at drafting cornerbacks in the Bill Belichick era. A look at some of the most glaring failures:
1. Ras-I Dowling
(2011, 2nd round, 33rd overall pick)
Expectations were high for Dowling, whom the Patriots chose with the first pick of the second night of the draft after almost a day’s worth of speculation that they would deal the selection. But Dowling, plagued by both injuries and ineffectiveness, would appear in just nine games over two seasons before the Patriots gave up on him.
2.