A look back at every Patriots first-round pick under Bill Belichick

Belichick broke one of his own rules when he selected N'Keal Harry 32nd overall in 2019, who became the first wide receiver that Belichick ever drafted in the first round.

However, drafting Harry proved to be more of the rule than the exception for Belichick's philosophy, as his production has fallen well short of what's expected of first-rounders. Harry has only managed 414 yards on 45 catches with four touchdowns across his first two NFL seasons.

Belichick drafted Isaiah Wynn 23rd overall out of Georgia to replace veteran left tackle Nate Solder, who left in free agency. Wynn wouldn't even get the chance as a rookie after suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in the preseason.

Wynn has rotated in and out of left tackle and left guard over the last two seasons but missed even more games with other injuries each year.

Sony Michel was Belichick's other first-round pick in 2018, joining his Georgia teammate Wynn as the only two Bulldogs to be selected by the same team in the first round. Michel was a productive running back for the Patriots, eclipsing 900 rushing yards each of his first two years with 13 total touchdowns.

A quadriceps injury and a stint on the Reserve/COVID-19 list caused him to miss seven games in 2020. He finished the year with just 449 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Malcolm Brown was drafted 32nd overall out of Texas in 2015 to replace veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who left in free agency.

Brown started 51 games for the Patriots over the next four seasons, racking up 8.5 sacks in that span. However, Belichick didn't believe Brown was worth keeping after that, declining his fifth-year option in 2019 and letting him leave in free agency for the New Orleans Saints.

Belichick drafted Easley 29th overall in 2014 out of Florida. Easley only played two seasons for the Patriots before he was unexpectedly cut after the 2015 season. Easley signed with the Los Angeles Rams and played his last NFL game against his former team in Super Bowl LIII.

Chandler Jones was drafted 21st overall out of Syracuse in 2012 and made the Pro Bowl for the Patriots in 2015. But an incident the following offseason saw Jones land in the hospital after experimenting with synthetic marijuana, which is legal in Massachusetts.

Still, Belichick had no patience for Jones' experiment and traded him to the Arizona Cardinals for Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick. Jones has gone on to help the Cardinals win that trade with two first-team All-Pro recognitions.

Dont'a Hightower was drafted 25th overall out of Alabama and is one of the Patriots' longest-tenured players. He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hightower has made 102 starts for the Patriots as a defensive centerpiece with two Pro Bowl appearances. Hightower is expected to return to the Patriots in 2021.

Solder held down the Patriots' left tackle position for six seasons as the 17th overall pick out of Colorado in 2011. Solder never made the Pro Bowl and missed 12 games in 2015 due to a torn bicep, but he protected Tom Brady well enough to help the Patriots win two Super Bowls in 2014 and 2016.

Solder left the Patriots in free agency in 2018, signing with the Giants where he struggled at left tackle and then opted out of the 2020 season.

Belichick drafted McCourty 27th overall out of Rutgers in 2010 – a move that gave the Patriots a cornerstone leader on defense for the next decade. McCourty, a two-time Pro Bowler and longtime defensive captain, is set to play his 12th NFL season in 2021 alongside his brother Jason McCourty who joined the Patriots in 2018.

Belichick traded down from the seventh overall pick to draft Mayo 10th overall out of Tennessee. Mayo played his entire eight-year career with the Patriots, making the Pro Bowl twice and even was named a first-team All-Pro in 2010.

Mayo now works under Belichick as the Patriots' inside linebackers coach.

Brandon Meriweather was drafted 24th overall in 2007 with a pick acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Deion Branch. Meriweather didn't take over as a full-time starter in the Patriots secondary until 2009 but then made two consecutive Pro Bowls.

Belichick let Meriweather walk in free agency in the 2011 offseason. Meriweather played for the Chicago Bears, Washington Football Team, and New York Giants before retiring after the 2015 season.

Belichick drafted Laurence Maroney with the 21st overall pick in 2010 but didn't get the featured running back the Patriots hoped.

Maroney was productive as a reserve back, averaging 4 yards per carry in his four seasons in New England, but only made 14 starts and never eclipsed 900 rushing yards in a single year.

Maroney spent one season with the Denver Broncos in 2010 before retiring the following offseason.

Logan Mankins was drafted 32nd overall out of Fresno State in 2005. Mankins played his entire college career at tackle, but Belichick switched him to guard for the Patriots.

Mankins started 130 games at left guard for the Patriots, making six Pro Bowls and earning a first-team All-Pro nod in 2010. However, Mankins' nine-year stint in New England from 2005-13 happened to be the organization's nine-year stretch without winning a Super Bowl.

Mankins retired in 2015 after a two-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, arguably as Belichick's best draft pick not to win a championship.

Belichick drafted Wilfork 21st overall out of Miami in 2004. Wilfork spent his rookie season as a reserve defensive tackle but earned six starts and was named the full-time starter in his second season.

Wilfork started 148 games for the Patriots at nose tackle, racking up 16 career sacks, and he even snagged three interceptions. Wilfork was a prominent leadership figure for the Patriots, as his teammates voted him captain for seven straight seasons from 2008 until his final year in New England in 2014.

Belichick drafted Benjamin Watson with the 32nd overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Georgia.

Watson won the team's starting tight end job as a rookie but only played in one game before a knee injury ended his rookie season. Watson returned the following year and went on to play six seasons for the Patriots.

Watson spent his next eight seasons hopping around from the Cleveland Browns to the Saints, Ravens, and then back to the Saints before returning to the Patriots for his final NFL season in 2019.

Belichick traded up to the 13th overall pick to draft Warren out of Texas A&M in 2003. Warren started 92 games for the Patriots up until 2010. Warren racked up 20.5 sacks for the Patriots, and while he never made the Pro Bowl, he was named a first-team All-Pro in 2007.

Belichick released Warren after the 2010 season, in which he missed 15 games due to a hip injury.

Daniel Graham was drafted with the 21st overall pick out of Colorado in 2002. Early in his career, he was known for dropping too many passes and suffering apparent lapses of concentration. He improved this aspect of his game later in his career, but it wasn't enough to keep him in New England after 2006.

Graham played six more seasons with the Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and Saints before retiring in 2013.

Even 20 years later, Seymour is still Belichick's highest-drafted player for the Patriots. As the sixth-overall pick out of Georgia in 2001, Seymour lived up to his billing as a defensive tackle prospect.

Seymour played eight seasons in New England, making seven Pro Bowls, earning five All-Pro nods, and anchoring the defense for the Patriots' first three Super Bowl championships from 2001-04.

Seymour has been inducted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame and was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade team.