The New England Patriots’ 2017 draft was known for two things: the lack of first- and second-round picks and the class of four. The team executed a lot of trades in the offseason, picking up Brandin Cooks, Dwayne Allen, Kony Ealy and James O’Shaughnessy while another late-rounder went to the Detroit Lions in the Kyle Van Noy trade at the 2016 trade deadline. New England also lost a fourth-round pick in Deflategate, and got a fourth back from the New Orleans Saints in the Cooks deal.
The Patriots opened the draft holding the 72nd, 96th, 131st overall picks through four rounds.