It was crucial for the new regime led by Mike Vrabel in New England to hit the offseason out of the park after back-to-back seasons that ended with a 4-13 record. The previous draft classes provided more busts than stars, and short of begging players to sign with the Patriots, it was nearly impossible to get the help they needed through the door.
Based on what we've seen so far, this season's rookies have been everything they needed and more, but it's not just the top picks that have been productive. Others who haven't received as much recognition, like safety Craig Woodson, are well on their way to becoming pillars of the roster for years to come.