17. Richard Seymour
When you think of the Patriots of the early 2000s, you obviously think of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. One of the next names that most think of, though, is Richard Seymour.
Seymour was one of the best defensive linemen of his era. He was a Pro Bowler every season from 2002-06, and was the focal point of the dominant New England defenses of that time. In 2002, Seymour totaled 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks, before having a breakout year in 2003. That season, he had eighth sacks while spending most of the time lined up on the interior of the defensive line.
He was one of the best run stoppers in the league in the early 2000s, and was constantly disrupting plays, both on the ground and by getting to the quarterback and disrupting pass plays.
Seymour went to Oakland in 2009, and was named a Pro Bowler in 2010. He had 5.5 sacks that season, and accounted for 48 tackles on the interior.
Seymour was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro, as well as being a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots in the earliest years of the New England dynasty.