Last year didn't yield many keepers

The Patriots' lone pick of the first day of the 2007 draft was Brandon Meriweather, who worked mostly in extra-DB sets. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

The shallow-as-Paris Hilton approach to evaluating the Patriots' 2007 draft would be to label it a disappointment. Of the nine players selected, just two, first-round pick Brandon Meriweather and sixth-rounder Mike Richardson, both defensive backs, remain on the roster.

But a deeper, substantive review would also credit the team for parlaying picks from the '07 draft into a pair of record-setting receivers - Randy Moss, obtained for a fourth-round pick, and Wes Welker, acquired from Miami for second- and seventh-round selections - and recognize that the final verdict on last year's draft can't be determined until the Patriots are off the clock tomorrow.

The Patriots hold the seventh overall pick today as the result of a trade with the 49ers during last year's draft, in which New England exchanged the 28th overall pick for San Francisco's 2008 first-round pick and a fourth-rounder last year, which was traded to Oakland for Moss.

The Patriots also swapped a third-rounder last year to Oakland for a seventh-round pick (used to take linebacker Oscar Lua) and a third-rounder this year (69th overall).

Here's a recap of the Patriots' draft class of 2007:

Brandon Meriweather, DB (first round, No. 24 overall) - The Patriots used the pick they obtained from Seattle in exchange for wide receiver Deion Branch to draft Meriweather. He didn't have the impact that his University of Miami teammate, linebacker Jon Beason, who went one pick later to Carolina, had. Beason, whom the Patriots considered, led Carolina in tackles. However, Meriweather came on down the stretch, replacing Eugene Wilson as the third safety in the team's three-safety, dime package. He was credited with 16 tackles and three passes defended. He made his first start in Super Bowl XLII, as the Patriots opened in an extra defensive back set.

Kareem Brown, DL (fourth round, No. 127) - The Patriots had to wait until Sunday to make another pick, and they went for a teammate of Meriweather's. Brown got off to a bad start when he was suspended for the first three days of training camp for an unspecified violation of team rules. He was never active for a game and was released Nov. 27. He is now with the Jets.

Clint Oldenburg, OL (fifth round, No. 171) - The Colorado State product was signed to the practice squad out of training camp, but was released Sept. 19. He was signed by the Jets and saw action at right tackle in New York's final two games of the regular season.

Justin Rogers, LB (sixth round, No. 180) - The pass rusher out of Southern Methodist displayed promise at outside linebacker during the exhibition season, recording two sacks. The Patriots hoped to sneak him on to their practice squad after the final roster cutdown, but he was scooped up by another team that plays a 3-4 defense, the Cowboys. He played in all 16 regular-season games for Dallas, plus one playoff game.

Mike Richardson, CB (sixth round, No. 202) - Richardson spent the season on injured reserve after breaking his left arm in the third exhibition game. The Notre Dame product was one of the pleasant surprises of training camp and figures to contend for a roster spot this season.

Justise Hairston, RB (sixth round, No. 208) - Hairston shares an alma mater with Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli (Central Connecticut) but not an NFL home. He was waived on the first day of training camp and received an injury settlement from the team, which had put him on the reserve/injured list. He was released from IR Sept. 12 and hooked on with the Colts, spending time on their practice squad.

Corey Hilliard, OL (sixth round, No. 209) - The last of the Patriots' four sixth-rounders, Hilliard was released in the final roster cutdown. The Colts picked up the Oklahoma State lineman Nov. 17, and he saw action as a reserve in three regular-season games, playing left and right guard.

Oscar Lua, LB (seventh round, No. 211) - Lua was another preseason casualty. The middle linebacker from Southern Cal suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the final exhibition game. He spent the season on IR, and was released in February.

Mike Elgin, OL (seventh round, No. 247) - Elgin played at Iowa under coach Kirk Ferentz, a Bill Belichick disciple. That didn't help him make the roster. The Jets signed Elgin to their practice squad Sept. 4 and waived him Oct. 10. He was signed to the Colts' practice squad Nov. 14 and is still on the team's roster.