Mike Haynes arrived from Arizona State as the fifth overall pick in the 1976 draft and immediately gave the Patriots a cornerback who could cover and return punts. As a rookie, he intercepted eight passes, returned two punts for touchdowns (the franchise’s first on that play), and led the AFC in punt-return yards. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and the first of six Pro Bowl selections in seven seasons with New England.

The production continued in 1977 with five interceptions and another Pro Bowl nod. The following year Haynes recorded six picks, including one returned for a touchdown, as the Patriots reached the playoffs. He earned All-Pro recognition and remained a starter through the late 1970s, adding three more interceptions in 1979. The secondary leaned on his coverage and ball skills during those seasons while the team hovered around contention.

Injuries limited Haynes in 1980 and 1981, though he still made the Pro Bowl in 1980. He returned fully in the strike-shortened 1982 campaign with four interceptions and another Pro Bowl appearance. Over those years, he became one of the league’s more consistent cover corners, using speed and range to contest throws and create turnovers. From 1977 through 1982, he remained among the AFC’s top defensive backs even as team results varied.

Contract issues arose as Haynes approached free agency. He held out in 1983, and the Patriots eventually traded him to the Los Angeles Raiders that November after a legal settlement. The move ended his time in New England. With the Patriots, he finished with 28 interceptions, the bulk of his career total of 46, along with more than 1,100 punt-return yards. He posted those numbers while starting most of his games in New England.

Haynes later helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII and added further Pro Bowl and All-Pro seasons. He was named to the 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team, and the 100th Anniversary Team. The Patriots retired his No. 40 and inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1994. Three years later, he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The early production and the trade that followed still define his time in New England.