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2023 NFL Draft: Instant Analysis and Grades for Every Team’s Picks

By Sayre Bedinger

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 27: (L-R) C.J. Stroud poses NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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2023 NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New England Patriots seventeenth overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots

  • 17. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
  • 46. Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
  • 76. Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State
  • 107. Jake Andrews, IOL, Troy
  • 112. Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
  • 117. Sidy Sow, OL, Eastern Michigan
  • 144. Antonio Mafi, OL, UCLA
  • 187. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
  • 192. Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan State
  • 210. Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
  • 214. Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan State
  • 245. Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson State

I can’t believe the Patriots. I cannot believe this.

They had a chance to hit for the cycle. They had a chance to complete the holy trinity of special teams players, and they didn’t do it.

You’re telling me with 75 picks, you couldn’t take one long snapper? After already taking a kicker and punter?

Shame.

All kidding aside, the Patriots had a unique NFL Draft class which did feature a very highly drafted kicker and punter, both players landing within the top 200 picks. The Patriots have drafted specialists in the past, so this is not new territory for them at all, and certainly if you draft guys at those spots, you expect them to be among the league’s best rather quickly.

What I can’t get over is how much I love the Patriots’ top pick — Christian Gonzalez — as well as how much I love the Marte Mapu pick, and yet how much I hate this draft.

The Patriots have a young QB in Mac Jones. They simply haven’t done enough to support that selection in Jones’ first three years. Not that the Patriots need to take a wide receiver with every pick, or offensive linemen with every pick, but I just don’t see how you can justify giving the Steelers Broderick Jones when you needed him yourself, how you can pass on tackles in this draft, pass on receivers until Kayshon Boutte at 187.

Again, love Christian Gonzalez. Love Marte Mapu. But where’s the help for Mac Jones?

Grade: C- (would have been a D without Gonzalez and Mapu)

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