On Monday, the NFL began dealing out their compensatory picks.
When teams lose a player in free agency, the NFL gives out picks as compensation for their loss.
Last year, to the surprise of many, the Patriots lost veteran wide receiver Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos, safety Patrick Chung to the Philadelphia Eagles and running back Danny Woodhead to the San Diego Chargers.
According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, they were rewarded with a fourth round pick, which many found surprisingly high.
The Patriots are likely very happy. They value picks very highly and often try to acquire as many picks as possible, something they did last year when they traded their first round pick to the Minnesota Vikings.
Last year, the Patriots selected TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Josh Boyce in the fourth round.