For some of their NFL rivals, the notion that the New England Patriots — they of the league’s first 16-0 regular season and reigning league MVP — have the number-seven pick in this year’s draft must be akin to seeing Bill Gates win Powerball. A team that talented gets to add one of the top players from such a deep draft?

Thank the San Francisco 49ers.

On the first day of last year’s draft, the Patriots traded their second first-round selection, the 28th overall, to San Francisco, in exchange for the 49ers fourth-round pick that year and their first-round pick this year. That fourth-rounder became Randy Moss, and thanks to San Francisco’s disappointing season, the first-rounder will be…who?

There is no shortage of potential choices, to be sure.

Add the fact that it’s Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli making the decision and their history of rarely taking the player that seems like the most obvious choice from the outside, and it’s even harder to guess.

But here are some of the top candidates who could be called at number seven:

Vernon Gholston, DL, Ohio State: Big, versatile, and athletic, Gholston would likely drop back to outside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense.

The 6-foot-4, 258-pounder didn’t begin playing football until his sophomore year of high school, and became an All-State offensive lineman before switching to linebacker and then joining the Buckeyes.

Has work to do to improve his pass coverage, but some scouts believe he could be a game-changer in a couple of years.

Branden Albert, OG, Virginia: Tom Brady is at the height of his career, but he won’t be for long if he keeps taking a physical beating.

Albert, 6-7, 315 pounds, is quick for a guard but also showed good footwork during two games at left tackle for the Cavaliers last season, which could make him a possibility at right tackle in New England.

Also has the advantage of having played for former Belichick assistant Al Groh at Virginia.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State: An impressive athlete, Rodgers-Cromartie would become the tallest corner (he’s 6-2, ) on New England’s roster and has speed and leaping ability to boot, as he won conference titles in the 60-meter dash, high jump and long jump.

Scouts say he’s a self-starter and a motivator with an obvious passion for football, a big plus with Belichick.

Keith Rivers, LB, Southern California: In their eight drafts with the Patriots, Belichick and Pioli have never selected a linebacker higher than the sixth round, but Rivers may be the one to break that streak.

The 6-2, 241-pounder could be the rarer young player who sees snaps at inside linebacker with New England, though there are questions about his ability to digest a complicated playbook.

Rivers has been on the rise in the eyes of draft prognosticators.

Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State: Recruited as a defensive lineman, Clady was switched to offensive line after his first year on the Broncos’ scout team.

He was a natural. Listed at 6-6, 316 pounds, Clady has the long reach to help slow edge rushers and slides his feet well. Could make the switch to right tackle, where Nick Kaczur and Ryan O’Callaghan have split time the last two years.

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy: Another I-AA standout like Rodgers-Cromartie, McKelvin is an excellent punt returner, taking seven punts back for touchdowns in his career.

At corner, he doesn’t shy away from contact, but struggles in run support. Measures in at 5-11, 190 pounds.

Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida: Like Gholston, Harvey could drop back to outside linebacker with the Pats, with his hands on the turf in certain situations, a la Willie McGinest.

At 6-5, 271 pounds, he has a great motor and is the type to lead by example rather than through words — he was a Gators captain in both his junior and senior seasons.

Harvey played for another friend of Belichick, Florida’s Urban Meyer.

There remains the chance that New England trades the pick, partly for financial reasons and partly because it has done a good job of finding good players later in the first round.

Belichick and Pioli have made an art of acquiring draft picks, making nearly 30 draft-weekend trades since 2000.

In all, the Pats have eight picks, with two coming in the third round.

smanza@projo.com