http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal..._take_5th.html
February 25, 2006
Pats take 5th
A coin flip to determine the draft position of the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders was held Friday at the NFL Combine, and the results indirectly helped the New England Patriots.
The 49ers and Raiders were flipping to determine which team would draft sixth or seventh in the first round. The 49ers and Raiders both finished 4-12, along with three other clubs. But since the 49ers and Raiders had the same strength of schedule, a coin flip was needed to determine draft position.
The coin flip also helped set the draft order for all 4-12 teams in ensuing rounds. The Patriots own the Raiders' fifth-round choice, which will be the third pick in the round (best of all 4-12 teams).
While it's not exactly stop-the-presses type of news, it's the type of trade that has earned Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli and head coach Bill Belichick respect around the NFL for their draft-day dealings.
The Patriots had traded a 2005 sixth-round pick (175th overall, Anttaj Hawthorne) to the Raiders for a 2005 seventh-round pick (230th overall, Matt Cassel) and a 2006 fifth-round pick. The 2006 fifth-round pick will be around the 139th overall selection.
A look at the picks:
Round 1 -- 21st, assigned selection
Round 2 -- 20th, assigned selection
Round 3 -- 11th, from Baltimore*
Round 3 -- 22nd, assigned selection
Round 4 -- 9th, from Detroit**
Round 4 -- 21st, assigned selection
Round 5 -- 3rd, from Oakland***
Round 5 -- 20th, traded to Browns for WR Andre' Davis
Round 6 -- 22nd, assigned selection
Round 7 -- 21st, assigned selection
* The Patriots' first 2006 third-round pick (the 11th selection of the round) was acquired from the Baltimore Ravens on April 23, 2005 along with a 2005 third-round pick (84 overall -- CB Ellis Hobbs) and a 2005 sixth-round pick (195 overall -- Traded to Green Bay) in exchange for a 2005 second-round pick (64 overall -- T Adam Terry).
** The Patriots' first 2006 fourth-round pick (the ninth selection of the round) was acquired from the Detroit Lions on April 24, 2005 in exchange for a 2005 fifth-round pick (145 overall -- QB Dan Orlovsky) and a 2005 sixth-round pick (206 overall -- DE Jonathan Goddard).
*** The Patriots' first 2006 fifth-round pick (3rd in the round) was acquired from the Oakland Raiders on April 24, 2005 along with a 2005 seventh-round pick (230 overall -- QB Matt Cassel) in exchange for a 2005 sixth-round pick (175 overall -- DT Anttaj Hawthorne).
There is also the possibility the Patriots could receive additional compensatory choices, which have yet to be determined.
