The New England Patriots selected running back Sony Michel with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
That was one pick before quarterback Lamar Jackson and four picks before Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb.
Michel spent three seasons with the Patriots and was a member of the 2019 Super Bowl championship team.
During his New England tenure, Michel appeared in 38 games and started 28 of them.
He rushed 535 times for 2,292 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown.
After receiving 200-plus carries his first two years with the team, Michel dealt with injuries and saw just 79 last season.
With the emergence of Damien Harris and the presence of fourth-round draft pick Rhamondre Stevenson, head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots decided Michel was no longer a necessary commodity.
He was recently dealt to the Los Angeles Rams for conditional fifth and sixth-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Patriots are trading RB Sony Michel to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two late-round conditional draft picks, per sources.
New England gets back two picks, the Rams get needed talent and depth at running back.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2021
While Michel had his ups for the Patriots, he never lived up to his first-round status.
Him being traded for late-round picks after three seasons proves it.
But for all their recent success, Michel isn’t the only bust selected by New England recently.
2018 NFL Draft
We’ll start with the 2018 NFL Draft.
Michel was selected in the first round, but he wasn’t New England’s first pick in the draft.
That distinction went to offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, who the Patriots selected No. 23 overall.
Wynn has suffered injuries in all three of his pro seasons.
He missed all of 2018 with an Achilles tear and missed time in 2019 and 2020 with toe and knee injuries.
While he enters the 2021 season penciled in as the team’s starting left tackle, Wynn has appeared in just 18 of a possible 48 games for the Patriots.
Cornerback Duke Dawson was New England’s second-round selection at pick No. 56.
After one season he was traded alongside a seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick.
The Patriots selected linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley in the fifth round and he is currently serving as a backup in New England.
However, every played picked after the fifth round, which included Christian Sam, Braxton Berrios, Danny Etling, Keion Crossen and Ryan Izzo, is no longer on the team.
2019 NFL Draft
The Patriots selected wide receiver N’Keal Harry with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
He was selected over fellow wide receivers A.J. Brown, Mecole Hardman, and DK Metcalf; who have all been named to at least one Pro Bowl.
Harry, on the other hand, has appeared in 21 games and has caught just 45 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns.
He is currently listed as a backup and has reportedly requested a trade.
Statement from #Patriots WR N’Keal Harry’s agent Jamal Tooson, who has formally requested a trade for the 2019 first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/3xdJbbar28
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 6, 2021
New England selected Joejuan Williams in the second round at pick No. 45; making him the sixth cornerback off the board.
He has appeared in 24 games for the the team, making 24 total tackles and defending two passes.
Williams is currently listed as a third-string cornerback.
Belichick and the Patriots actually nailed their next two picks selecting Chase Winovich and Harris in the third round.
Winovich has made 5.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons while Harris is locked-in as the team’s starter and made Michel expendable.
However, fellow third-round pick Yodny Cajuste has been injured both seasons and has yet to play an NFL down.
He is listed as a third-stringer.
Fifth-round punter Jake Bailey is the team’s starter, but fourth-rounder Hjalte Froholdt and seventh-rounder Ken Webster are no longer with the team.
Fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham and fifth-rounder Byron Cowart are both third-stringers.
2020 NFL Draft
With these players entering just their second NFL season, it’s hard to call them full on busts.
But only one is currently a starter with New England.
The Patriots’ first pick came in the second round at No. 37 where they selected safety Kyle Dugger.
Dugger appeared in 14 games with the Patriots and made 64 tackles.
He will backup Adrian Phillips this season.
New England used their next two picks on linebackers in second-rounder Josh Uche and third-rounder Anfernee Jennings.
Both will be backups this season.
The Patriots then selected two tight ends in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round.
Asiasi is listed as a backup while Keene was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
New England used their fifth -ound pick on kicker Justin Rohrwasser.
But he never attempted a kick for the team and was replaced with veteran Nick Folk.
Sixth-round guard Michael Onwenu is actually listed as a starter for the Patriots while fellow sixth-round tackle Justin Herron is listed as a backup.
Sixth-rounder Cash Maluia and seventh rounder Dustin Woodard are no longer with the team.
Overall
Michel might be considered the biggest bust of the group as the Patriots missed out on Jackson and Chubb.
However, Wynn and Harry both haven’t lived up to expectations.
Very few of New England’s late-round picks have seen major success recently as well.
While the 2020 class shows some promise, the Patriots used a fifth-round pick on a kicker and then cut him before his rookie season.
New England has some promise in this year’s class with quarterback Mac Jones and fourth-round running back Stevenson.
Both have impressed during the preseason.
Patriots fans will hope that the team’s 2021 NFL Draft class will break the trend of some puzzling decisions by Belichick and company in recent years.
NEXT: Mac Jones Seems Destined To Start For Patriots in 2021