PATS DRAFT BIG

The 2023 NFL Draft kicked off in Kansas City on the 27th of April. The New England Patriots held the 14th pick going into the draft before trading back three places to 17th, and it was clear the team needed a new lockdown corner since J.C Jackson’s departure before the 2022 season.

Christian Gonzalez was very much expected to be a top-10 pick and was widely regarded as the best defensive back in the 2023 draft class. So, when the Patriots found him still on the board when they were on the clock, I doubt there was much decision-making going on back in the New England draft room.

According to ESPN’s draft predictor, there was a mere 1% chance Gonzalez would still be on the board at pick 15. Gonzalez adds some much-needed height in the New England secondary as well as being superb in press coverage, where he played 277 snaps last season.

Rounds two and three saw the Pats pick up edge threat Keion White and linebacker Marte Mapu. Linebacker was an area the Patriots were in need of depth after not really replacing Kyle Van Noy and Donta Hightower, Mapu is a very versatile defender with him also able to play a box-style safety in a base defense. Defensive end is actually one of the patriot’s strongest positions with veterans such as Matthew Judon and Josh Uche on the roster White won’t be short of mentors. The Patriots were third for total sacks last season and their front four managed to register the third-highest pressure rate at 31%.

Overall New England drafted well, I’m sure the Foxborough faithful would have loved to have seen Bill Belichick grab a stud WR1 for Quarterback Mac Jones going into his third year with the team. But perhaps the off-season coaching change of bringing in Bill O’Brien as Offensive Co-ordinator to replace Matt Patricia can rejuvenate what was a lackluster offense in 2022.

I think addressing the secondary was a real must for the Patriots and they did that far better than expected with the acquisition of Christian Gonzalez, which probably makes this a better draft overall for the Patriots. I think the Patriots could perhaps have drafted better in areas but did draft fairly well in the later rounds so id register it a success and give them a grade of B+.

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