NFL announces official 2018 draft order; Patriots tied for fewest selections

After combine weekend saw the 2018 NFL draft order finalized following a tie-breaking coin flip, the NFL's communications department sent out the official draft order yesterday. The New England Patriots hold six selections in this year's draft, allotted to the following slots (round-pick within round-pick overall):

1-31-31

2-11-43 (from San Francisco 49ers for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo)

2-31-63

3-31-95

4-36-136 (compensatory pick)

6-31-205

Despite getting a second rounder for the Jimmy Garoppolo trade and receiving a compensatory selection due to last year's free agency losses, the Patriots hold only six draft picks this year. The number ties the team with the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins for the fewest selections in the league.

The reason why the Patriots hold a below-average number of selections in 2018 is due to trades. In total, New England shipped away four draft selections it would otherwise own:

4-31-131 (traded to Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Eric Rowe)

5-31-168 (traded to Seattle Seahawks for defensive edge Cassius Marsh)

7-31-249 (traded to Cincinnati Bengals for linebacker Marquis Flowers)

7-32-250 (traded to Seattle Seahawks for defensive edge Cassius Marsh)

For comparison, New England also held six selections entering last year's draft but ultimately made only four picks – the fewest in franchise history.