Each NFL team’s best ever 1st-round draft pick

47. <p>We have to go all the way back to the 1970s to find the New England Patriots best 1st-round pick. In 1976, the Patriots selected cornerback Mike Haynes out of Arizona State at No. 5 overall. No disrespect to Sanders but the long, rangy, fast, agile and fluid Haynes was may have been the best cover-corner of all time.</p> <p>Not only could he stay with anyone but he could keep his receiver at the line of scrimmage. He was extremely physical at 6’2, 200 pounds and had long arms to put his hands on you from a ways away. Some of the best receivers of the ’70s and ’80s hated going against him because it was going to be a long day.</p> <p>The Patriots were relevant for most of Haynes’ time in New England before he held out in 1983. He played out his contract with the Patriots and since free agency hadn’t started yet, he held out, seeking to be the highest paid corner as he deserved. Haynes’ ended up in court and somehow, the then Los Angeles Raiders got involved.</p> <p>At the end of it all, a settlement awarded his contract the Raiders and to gave the Patriots two high draft picks. And after playing the last five regular season games with the Raiders, he went to the playoffs and won a Super Bowl. That was the pinnacle of his 14-year career that saw him make two All-Pro teams, nine Pro Bowls and ultimately the Hall of Fame.</p>. CB. Arizona State. Mike Haynes. '76. player