2 weeks Ago By Alex Buck, NFL Analysis Network
The 2000 NFL draft is one of the most iconic in NFL history for one reason. The 199th pick, Tom Brady, was selected by the New England Patriots. Many forget the franchise made six picks before they drafted the Michigan quarterback, and he wasn’t even the first pick they made in that iconic sixth round.
Of course, all 32 NFL teams passed on him. There were 198 picks made before Tom Brady heard his name called, something that the quarterback has been very upfront about, and the pain it caused him at the time. That pain then fueled two decades’ worth of legendary football and seven Super Bowl titles.
After an illustrious career in the league, Tom Brady is now looking to make his mark as a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders . He is expected to be heavily involved in the 2025 NFL draft , his first with his new team. These are the six players the New England Patriots drafted before they took a chance on Tom Brady.
Round 1 – Pick Traded for the rights to Bill Belichick The 2000 NFL draft gets talked about because of the Brady pick. What doesn’t get talked about anywhere near enough is the fact that the Patriots technically got Bill Belichick and Brady from the same NFL draft. It would have been the 16th overall selection, but instead, Robert Kraft opted to send the pick to the New York Jets , along with both a fourth and a seventh-round pick in 2001.
In return, the Patriots received the rights to hire Bill Belichick, plus a fifth-round pick in 2001 and a seventh-round pick in 2002. It’s relatively safe to say the trade worked out better than any 16th overall pick in the draft would have done. Round 2, Pick 46 – Adrian Klemm – Guard, Hawaii Without a first-round selection, Bill Belichick’s first pick as the head coach of the New England Patriots was Adrian Klemm, a guard out of Hawaii.
Klemm spent five years with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls as part of the offensive line. After a successful career in the league, he went on to a coaching career that eventually led him back to the Patriots. In 2023, he served as the team’s offensive line coach under Belichick.
Round 3, Pick 76 – JR Redmond – Running Back, Arizona State JR Redmond came into the NFL as a three-time First-Team All-Pac-10 running back. Sadly, his career in the NFL didn’t quite pan out as the Patriots had hoped. Redmond spent three seasons with the Patriots, scoring just three touchdowns.
His most famous role with the team came during the ‘snow game’ against the Raiders, catching three crucial passes during the game-winning drive in overtime. Round 4, Pick 127 – Greg Randall – Tackle, Michigan State Greg Randall was drafted to play right tackle for the Patriots after earning First-Team All-Big 10 honors as a senior at Michigan State. He spent three years in New England blocking for Tom Brady, while also helping Antowain Smith reach career-high rushing numbers, posting 1,157 yards in the 2001 season.
In 2002, Randall was traded to the Houston Texans. Round 5, Pick 141 – Dave Stachelski – Tight End, Boise State Fifth-round pick Dave Stachelski never made the team. He was cut before the season began, dealing with injuries that kept him off the field.
He spent two seasons on the New Orleans Saints roster before retiring from the NFL. Round 5, Pick 161 – Jeff Marriott – Defensive Tackle, Missouri Jeff Marriott didn’t make the team either. Bill Belichick missed with back-to-back picks, and when Marriott was cut, no other team in the league was interested in giving him a chance.
He never played a snap in the NFL. Round 6, Pick 187 – Antwan Harris – Safety, Virginia Antwan Harris played a meaningful role with the Patriots. There must have been something about the NFL draft’s sixth round that year.
January 27, 2002 Troy Brown Returns a punt 55 yards for a TD, Bledsoe connects with Patten for a TD and a blocked FG returned by Brown and Antwan Harris for a TD as the Pats beat the Steelers (24-17) in Pittsburgh in the AFC Champ game Super Bowl next pic.twitter.com/ZDofipd6Ku Harris played in 52 games for New England, more than any of the players drafted before him in the 2000 draft.
In his five years with the team, he won three Super Bowls. His most memorable play was the forced fumble on LA Rams receiver Ricky Proehl, which set up the Patriots’ only touchdown of the game in the Super Bowl XXXVI win. Round 6, Pick 199 – Tom Brady – Quarterback, Michigan Twelve picks after drafting a safety in the 2000 NFL draft sixth round, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots selected Tom Brady.
It was a move that would alter the course of the franchise and the NFL forever, now the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport. Remaining Picks: This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..
