New England Patriots: 3 comments on 2021 compensatory draft picks

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during pre-game warmups prior to the start of NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during pre-game warmups prior to the start of NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots
Tom Brady #12 (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The New England Patriots were awarded third and fourth-round compensatory picks as a result of their losses in free agency in the 2020 offseason. Not a bad haul, wouldn’t you think? Well maybe, unless and until you factor in what the real cost of that third-round pick was.

The NFL somehow balances the free agents you signed, against those you lost, if you lose more than you signed, I guess you get compensatory picks based on that.

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It’s a technicality that frankly would bore all but the uber stat-geek types, of which I certainly am not. I never met a math equation that I liked.

But there are three main points here that really are of relevance to the New England Patriots. So let’s take a look at them.

First, the Third-round pick comes over thanks to the New England Patriots’ loss of … Tom Brady.

A lot has already been said and written about this situation, but it never hurts to regurgitate (and it would be almost literally a regurgitation, for sure) what the “awarding” of this third-round pick actually meant and could mean going forward.

Let’s just say that New England and especially its hierarchy, allowed the best player in the history of the NFL who’d already won six Super Bowls for them (and by-the-way was still performing at a high level with an awful supporting cast) to leave for another team. Bad decision.

Of course, that old, broken-down 43-year-old was washed up, yet … yet … still went on to rack up his seventh Super Bowl title.

And that with a team that, let’s just say, before his entrance wasn’t very good. Talented, indeed, But not good. At all.

But enter the dragon of all Quarterbacks, the fire-breathing, fiery dart-throwing No. 12, and all of that changes in one 8 month timeframe. Fancy that.

Also, this will be of great solace to fans of the New England Patriots upon hearing that that certain No. 12 is negotiating a contract extension with his current team.

That just leads this writer to this conclusion. Don’t be surprised if that certain No 12 plays until he’s 50 years old. Right, 50!

And you know what, he just may. He’s that kind of All-time Player. And he may just win three or four (or more?) more Super Bowls while he’s at it.

Meanwhile, back in the woody village of Foxborough, the masters of the New England Patriot’s Dynasty went 7-9, didn’t make the playoffs, and find themselves looking up to the lowly Buffalo Bills and the toothless Miami Dolphins.

What a revolting development this is.