The NFL Management Council has awarded the New England Patriots a league-maximum four compensatory picks ahead of the 2020 draft.
And those picks loom at Nos. 98, 100, 212 and 213 overall.
By the end of April, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Co. will either call names or teams with the compensatory capital. For now, those additional third-rounders and sixth-rounders are unopened boxes. Just as they were a year ago at this time.
But the past decade of prospects taken at New England’s compensatory slots is a point of reference for what may be inside.
Here’s a look back at what was for war rooms around the league.
NO. 98 OVERALL
- 2019: Quincy Williams, S, Murray State
- 2018: Jordan Akins, TE, Central Florida
- 2017: Chad Williams, WR, Grambling State
- 2016: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College
- 2015: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State
- 2014: Richard Rodgers, TE, California
- 2013: Matt Barkley, QB, USC
- 2012: Gino Gradkowski, C, Delaware
- 2011: Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
- 2010: Mike Johnson, G, Alabama
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams’ brother, Quincy Williams, is the most recent No. 98 overall selection. The Murray State do-it-all started eight games at linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie in 2019. Further down the recent history is former Boston College safety Justin Simmons, a second-team All-Pro for the Denver Broncos this past campaign who stands with 288 tackles, two sacks, 28 passes defensed, 11 interceptions and a touchdown on his NFL resume.
NO. 100 OVERALL
- 2019: Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
- 2018: Dorian O’Daniel, LB, Clemson
- 2017: Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International
- 2016: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
- 2015: Angelo Blackson, DT, Auburn
- 2014: Brandon Thomas, G, Clemson
- 2013: Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois
- 2012: Travis Benjamin, WR, Miami
- 2011: Da’Norris Searcy, S, North Carolina
- 2010: Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Angelo Blackson, taken No. 100 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, had a subsequent stint on the Patriots’ practice squad before developing into a full-time starter for the Houston Texans last season. But fellow defensive lineman Everson Griffen reigns as the top century-mark pick of the past decade. Griffen has been named to four Pro Bowls during his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, tallying 74.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, a pair of interceptions and one touchdown.
NO. 212 OVERALL
- 2019: Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina
- 2018: Greg Senat, OT, Wagner
- 2017: Kofi Amichia, C, South Florida
- 2016: Kavon Frazier, S, Central Michigan
- 2015: Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami
- 2014: Marquis Flowers, LB, Arizona
- 2013: Joe Kruger, DE, Utah
- 2012: Michael Smith, RB, Utah State
- 2011: Zach Clayton, DT, Auburn
- 2010: Chris McCoy, DE, Middle Tennessee State
The Patriots acquired Marquis Flowers, a 2014 NFL arrival, from the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of Labor Day in 2017. The linebacker out of Arizona proceeded to play in all 16 games that season, notching a career-high 32 tackles to go with the initial 3.5 sacks and forced fumble of his career. Flowers is one of six No. 212 overall picks from the past decade of drafts to appear in a regular-season game. Ex-South Carolina tackle Dennis Daley started nine games as a Carolina Panthers rookie in 2019.
NO. 213 OVERALL
- 2019: Donovan Wilson, S, Texas A&M
- 2018: Colby Gossett, G, Appalachian State
- 2017: Colin Holba, LS, Louisville
- 2016: Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State
- 2015: Kennard Backman, TE, Alabama-Birmingham
- 2014: Tahj Boyd, QB, Clemson
- 2013: Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
- 2012: Richard Crawford, CB, Southern Methodist
- 2011: Brandyn Thompson, CB, Boise State
- 2010: Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State
Appalachian State’s Colby Gossett and UAB’s Kennard Backman both had stints on the New England practice squad. But among the No. 213 overall picks since 2010, the leader in NFL games played goes to North Carolina State’s Willie Young. The 34-year-old edge-rusher checked into 98 games, starting 45 between his stays with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. By his release from Chicago in February 2018, Young had logged 32 career sacks, including one double-digit campaign.
New England has garnered 43 selections by way of the NFL’s compensatory system.
The latest four will remain part of the archives, even if a different team ends up being on the clock.