Former undrafted rookie David Andrews to announce a Patriots draft pick this year

Selections getting announced by current or former players instead of league executives is nothing new at the NFL draft. Back in 2016, for example, Kevin Faulk famously went on stage wearing a Tom Brady jersey during the heyday of the Deflategate scandal. Two years earlier, Willie McGinest faced the crowd in New York by expressing his love for them before speaking about “your and my New England Patriots.”

Whether or not David Andrews’ appearance on the draft day stage will become similarly memorable remains to be seen. But one thing we know: as the league announced yesterday, the Patriots’ center will be among a group of 64 so-called “NFL legends” to announce a day two draft pick this year. In Andrews’ case, it will be one of New England’s third-round selections — the team, of course, currently owns three of them.

For Andrews, this will mark the first time as a participant, albeit as a comparatively passive one, at an NFL draft event. After all, the 26-year-old went unselected in 2015 and joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent shortly afterwards. Since then, the Georgia product developed into the starting center on two Super Bowl-winning teams, one of the best young players his position currently has to offer, and a leader both on and off the field.

Appearing at the draft will be the next offseason highlight for Andrews after he thoroughly appeared to enjoy the Patriots’ parade after the team’s victory in Super Bowl 53. Needless to say that he earned his spot on both stages after going from draft day afterthought to starting offensive lineman, team captain, and two-time world champion.