December 31st, 2008 
Matt Loede 
Posted in From: Boston Herald
Going 11-5 and not making the playoffs may seem unfair to some, but those thinking that a silver lining for the Patriots would be a higher draft pick are in for more disappointment. The NFL draft order is set by record, and the Patriots are slated to pick 24th in the first round, behind four playoff teams with worse records: San Diego (8-8, 16th), Arizona (9-7, 21st), Philadelphia (9-6-1, 22d), and Minnesota (10-6, 23d). The Patriots can’t drop any lower than 24 but can pick as high as 22d. They’d move up two spots if San Diego and any of those three NFC teams met in the Super Bowl, as Super Bowl participants pick 31st and 32d regardless of record. The Patriots would move up to 23d if any one of the four playoff teams with worse records advanced to the Super Bowl.
