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Belichick's Best: Ranking His Top Fifth Round Draft Picks With Patriots

BOSTON (CBS) -  After resigning as HC of the NYJ in January 2000, head coach Bill Belichick was quickly hired by the New England Patriots and given near-complete control over the team's football operations by owner Robert Kraft.

Belichick is the longest-tenured NFL head coach, and entering his sixteenth season at the helm of the four-time Super Bowl winning Patriots, he's about to make his stamp on yet another NFL Draft.

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Leading up to the draft, which starts on Thursday April 29th, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Scott Zolak and Marc Bertrand dig deep into the Patriots draft history and rank the best players Belichick has chosen in a given round.

On Friday, the radio duo tackled Round 5 which, judging by the raw numbers, might just be Belichick's least favorite round to draft in. Belichick has drafted just 13 Patriots in the 5th round, the fewest of any round, and he hasn't made a selection in round five since 2011.

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(Note: Keep in mind these are Patriots players that Belichick himself has drafted and does not include picks made before the year 2000)

Here's what they came up with:

Zolak Ranks Belichick's Round 5 Draft Picks

1. Dan Koppen (2003)

2. Matt Slater (2008)

3. Zoltan Mesko (2010)

4. Marcus Cannon (2011)

5. PK Sam (2004)

Bertrand Ranks Belichick's Round 5 Draft Picks

1. Dan Koppen (2003)

2. Matt Slater (2008)

3. Zoltan Mesko (2010)

4. Marcus Cannon (2011)

5. Ryan O'Callaghan (2006)

6. PK Sam (2004)

Listen below to hear their explanations:

Missed The Cut

Dave Stachelski (2000)

Jeff Marriott (2000)

Hakim Akbar (2001)

Ryan Claridge (2005)

Clint Oldenburg (2007)

George Bussey (2009)

Lee Smith  (2011)


98.5 The Sports Hub is your flagship radio station of the New England Patriots!

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