Patriots best draft picks: Vince Wilfork was a force on and off the field
NFL draft time calls to mind one of the New England Patriots best draft picks ever, Big Vince Wilfork. Vince Wilfork was previously cited in an article as one of the all-time great Patriots defensive tackles.
Vince was not only a star player but seems an even better person. Wilfork was the 21st pick in the first round by the Patriots in 2004 from the University of Miami.
Having been critical of many Patriots picks in the past, it’s only proper to be sure to point out when they get or got a pick right.
Vince Wilfork was certainly one of the absolute best of picks. Wilfork was the prototypical nose tackle for New England and played on a Super Bowl winner in his first season in 2004.
He contributed 42 tackles and 2 sacks from his interior position that season. Nice production for a rookie, for sure.
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For 10 of his 11 years in New England (he was injured and only played 4 games one season, and also played two years in Houston before he retired after the 2016 season), he was a wrecking ball of a nose/defensive tackle.
You think perfect nose tackle, you thought Vince Wilfork. Built lower to the ground at about 6’1″ or 6’2″ and massive, let’s say 350 pounds or so, he was an immovable object upfront for New England.
Thinking of any Patriot who comes close to what Vince provided as a nose tackle, maybe Danny Shelton would come to mind. But that was only for one season, in 2019.
That year Shelton had “Wilfork-like” statistics, but for some reason New England let him leave for Detroit after that season. Poor decision, they’re still looking for someone to fill his shoes, never mind Vince’s.
Vince Wilfork, one of New England Patriots fans all-time favorites
Wilfork was a super talent. He made five Pro Bowls during his all-star career and was also a first-team All-Pro one season. That’s the best of the best. He won other honors from media outlets, as well.
Vince will be first eligible for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame with the 2022 class. Write this in, he’s a lock of locks for first-ballot entry. Gotta love this line from a boston.com article about Vince’s jacket size,
"Well, he’s a lock for the Patriots Hall of Fame, so get that size XXXXXXL red jacket ready now. Given that he announced his retirement Monday with a sponsored tweet from Kingsford Charcoal, that induction ceremony should turn into the best tailgate in Gillette Stadium history."
When Vince returns to Gillette to parade that sharp red jacket, the thunderous applause will be heard all the way to Causeway Street in Boston.
With that in mind, why not have a statue of Vince in City Hall Plaza or near Faneuil Hall in Boston? That would do nicely, thank you, the amount of bronze necessary notwithstanding.
In addition, boston.com thinks he has a “decent chance” for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well. No argument against that thought from here whatsoever. He should be voted in.
Vince Wilfork is likely the best nose tackle in the history of the league. Who is or was any better? Haloti Ngata comes to mind as in the same league, but who else?
And while the pool is larger, he’s also one of the best defensive tackles, period. Frankly, if those facts don’t qualify him, there’s something amiss.
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And to conclude, Big Vince (while I have never met him myself) certainly seems to be one of the nicest people you’d ever be lucky enough to meet, as well as one of your all-time New England Patriots favorites players.
Have mentioned this before, but let’s be repetitive, hopefully, Bob Kraft or Bill Belichick will bring Vince Wilfork back to the club for the rest of his career. Who would ever be a better Ambassador for the blue, silver, red, and white, than Vince? No one.