The Patriots thought about taking Tom Brady earlier than the sixth round.
Brady, along with a few other players, came up in conversation in the fifth round and even earlier according to Scott Pioli -- now the Chiefs G.M. -- during his appearance on PFT Live Monday.
Brady’s overall grade was very high on New England’s board at the time, but the team had three quarterbacks on the roster they planned to keep and cap considerations factored into the mix. More than anything, the Patriots had a bigger need at other positions.
Florio asked Pioli about drafting defensive lineman Jeff Marriott in the fifth round and his telling answer can be heard below. The entire process behind drafting Brady helps to point out the randomness and difficulty of the entire draft process.
With every pick, teams have to weigh a great number of factors before making their decision and then hoping for the best. The Patriots passed on Brady for positions of greater need a few times, before his value was too great to pass up.
To watch Pioli’s entire segment, head to the PFT Live homepage. Or download the show on iTunes.