Follow along with this tracker for NESN.com's rapid-fire take on each Patriots pick, along with any draft-day trades New England executes.
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Round 1, 17th overall: CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Analysis: What a win for the Patriots. Gonzalez was considered arguably the best cornerback in this year’s draft — if not, the second-best behind Devon Witherspoon — and New England was able to land him at No. 17 while also picking up an extra fourth-round pick in the process.
Gonzalez is an elite athlete, grabbed four interceptions with 11 passes defended last season, never missed a game due to injury in college and, at 6-foot-1, 197 bounds, will add some much-needed size and length to the Patriots’ shorter cornerback group. The only New England cornerback who topped 6 feet last season was Jalen Mills, and he reportedly is moving to safety. They needed a player with Gonzalez’s skill set.
A slam dunk off the top for Bill Belichick, who surely got a positive review of Gonzalez’s character from Adrian Klemm. The Patriots’ new O-line coach was an assistant at Oregon last season.
Gonzalez wound up being the third corner selected after Witherspoon and Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16 to Washington).
The Patriots could use a game-changing cornerback, and there just happen to be plenty in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Phil Perry identifies the CBs in this year’s deep prospect pool who would best fit in New England.
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Christian Gonzalez, Oregon (6-foot-1, 197 pounds)
Gonzalez doesn't always play to his size. He's doesn't possess the feistiness that Witherspoon does. But he might be the best pound-for-pound athlete in the draft. Across positions.
He's incredibly smooth and fluid in his movements, showing zero difficulty in turning and running with vertical targets. And he's long enough to let some of those targets never get into their routes on time off the line of scrimmage.
He could be better at the catch point, but he had four picks and seven breakups last year. He still has room to grow even though he's already damn good. Scary.