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The first thing you notice about Ty Law when he enters the room is the gold jacket he earned in 2019 when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Law, who spent the best years of his 15-season NFL career as a lockdown corner with the New England Patriots, wears the jacket proudly. It’s a jacket they don’t give to just anybody.

“I’m part of an exclusive club,” Law said, “and I still can’t believe it.”

Law played the first 10 seasons of his career in New England, helping the Patriots win three Super Bowls. His pick-six on Rams quarterback Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXVI gave the Patriots the lead and helped set the tone in a 20-17 win that became the foundation for a dynasty.

Law was in Portland on Thursday to watch the NFL Draft at Oddfellahs, the sports book/sports bar in the Old Port, where he mingled with fans and offered tastes of Corvus Vodka, the brand he co-owns and helped develop. As the start of the draft approached, Law recalled how he felt when the Patriots called his name with the 23rd overall pick in 1995.

Coming out of Michigan, Law spent his draft day with friends and family in his hometown, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He’d been told he could go anywhere from late in the first round to somewhere in the third. He thought it might be the Lions, but they took defensive tackle Luther Ellis.

The first voice he heard from the Patriots organization on draft day belonged to Nancy Meyers, a longtime employee who worked with the scouting department.

“When my name got called, knowing all the hard work and sacrifice paid off and changed the fortunes for not just myself, but my family, because times were hard back then. That’s what I remember the most,” Law said. “I’m so grateful for the way it turned out.”

If you think Law’s NFL success was predestined, think again. His uncle is Tony Dorsett, who had a Hall of Fame career as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. Leading into the draft, Dorsett never gave his nephew advice on what to expect, Law said. The conversations were always about putting in the work and taking nothing for granted.

The kid who spent two weeks every summer in Dallas training with his uncle and his Cowboys teammates took that advice to heart. What are you going to do when you get beat, Dorsett would ask him, because you will get beat.

“He was my greatest motivation and inspiration. I got two weeks every summer in Dallas with Tony Dorsett. You can’t get better hands on training than that,” Law said.

Coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, this is an important draft for the Patriots. To remain in the upper echelon of the NFL, they have some holes to fill, and this weekend is key in that regard. Unfortunately, it all takes place under a cloud of coach Mike Vrabel’s own making, as he deals with the fallout surrounding his alleged relationship with reporter Dianna Russini.

Law didn’t address the scandal that his former teammate is facing. Thursday’s appearance was a chance for him to meet fans and push his new business endeavor. When asked who the Patriots should take with the 31st pick in the first round, he kept it simple.

“The Pats will take the best player available,” he said.

Law was more adamant when discussing Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots cornerback who is the best homegrown player the team has had at the position since Law left.

“He’s the real deal. I always say when Christian Gonzalez comes up, pay the man. He’s one of the best young corners out there. I’d put him in the top two, three corners in the league. He deserves it, contract-wise, and he’s going to be around a long time,” Law said.

As the draft started to unfold, Law worked the room, posing for photos and signing autographs. He analyzed picks in real time.

A fan base grateful for his brilliance on the football field showed its adoration, and Law gave it back.