After watching one of the most impressive performances by a running back in Patriots history on Sunday, with LeGarrette Blount breaking a 51-year-old franchise record for all-purpose yards, it led us to hit the rewind button to the day the Patriots acquired Blount.
In a draft-day deal this past April, the Patriots traded running back Jeff Demps and a seventh-round pick for Blount.
In terms of value, it obviously ranks as one of the best deals in Bill Belichick's 14 years running the Patriots' football operation. As for how close to the top, here's one viewpoint of Belichick's top 10 trades from what is often tough to assess from a black-and-white perspective:
1. Acquiring a 2008 first-round draft choice (eventually turned into Jerod Mayo) and 2007 fourth-round draft choice (traded for Randy Moss) in exchange for a 2007 first-round draft choice (28th) which the 49ers used on offensive tackle Joe Staley (April 28, 2007).
2. Acquiring receiver Wes Welker from Miami for second- and seventh-round draft choices (March 5, 2007).
3. Acquiring running back Corey Dillon from Cincinnati for a second-round pick (April 19, 2004).
4. Acquiring Baltimore's 2004 first-round pick (turned into Vince Wilfork) and 2003 second-rounder in exchange for a 2003 first-round pick (19th) used on QB Kyle Boller (April 26, 2003).
5. Acquiring nose tackle Ted Washington from Chicago for a fourth-round pick (Aug. 19, 2003).
6. Acquiring cornerback Aqib Talib and a seventh-round pick from Tampa Bay in exchange for a fourth-round pick (Nov. 1, 2012).
7. Acquiring Blount from Tampa Bay for Demps and a seventh-round pick (April 27, 2013).
8. Acquiring the Lions' second-round pick to select offensive lineman Matt Light as the Jets were ready to pounce on the next selection and giving up a second-rounder and sixth-rounder to do so (April 21, 2001).
9. Acquiring a 2003 first-round draft choice from Buffalo for Drew Bledsoe (April, 21, 2002).
10. Acquiring a 2012 first-round draft choice (used as a chip to trade up for Chandler Jones) and a 2011 second-round pick (RB Shane Vereen) from New Orleans in exchange for a 2011 first-round draft choice (28th) used on running back Mark Ingram (April 28, 2011).