Instant Reaction: Your Patriots 2023 Draft Grade

[Real fan 02]

Good point about Bill’s consistent approach of throwing multiple candidates at roster openings. That definitely seems to be happening across the entire OL. Your comment about C reminded me that he took Russey in the last draft, so it’s a position he’s clearly anticipating needing to fill in the not too distant future.

Solid B for me on the draft, Gonzales something about this kid spells lockdown corner to me. I feel he instantly becomes the besr CB on the roster. Hard to complain.. like every year we there will be a suprise player that ends up making a name for himself in camp.. I love that now with a real offense we can correctly judge the match ups this year in camp.

I'm glad to see that the center position was addressed Andrew's has been an all pro center.. but age and injuries are a bad combination in football. Lot's to like guess we see all the pieces come together in camp!

 

[Ring 6]

Speed is an obvious late day 3 special teams pick by Bill. Good size and speed and more than 500 special teams snaps in college.

Ebner

 

[Huckleberry1]

What’s The Sporting News?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

3 reasons WR Kayshon Boutte could be steal of the draft for Patriots

When looking back on the 2023 NFL draft, one of these days, we might be wondering why teams didn't select LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte earlier. There's a legitimate chance that the New England Patriots got the steal of the draft by having the former Tiger drop

patriotswire.usatoday.com

He blew out his ankle and had two surgeries to try to fix it. Everyone shows highlights from before the ankle surgeries. He fell to the 6th because noone knows if the ankle will ever be OK. Think Malcolm Mitchell and his knees.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Oh, Ya. This Dude is ecstatic that he sat there in KC through day 1 and did not get picked. So, he went home.

But, you're the same folks that are happy that Brandon has run gas up to $5 a gallon too.

Triumph the @sshole, injecting his politics into football threads. GFY

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Wish they would have gotten a TE, and a receiving back. But if one of the wideouts pan out, A-plus

 

[patfanken]

This is my "upon further reflection" post.

I LOVED the first 2 picks. Enough said already about these 2

I initially HATED the next pick, I think more because I was REALLY high on Tucker Kraft, which was a position of need next year and he went a few picks after us. So anyone picked here would have pissed me off. But here's the thing about Mapu. He didn't go to the combine, but was excellent at the Senior bowl AND had a Pats coach there, so we got a good look at him.

Like White, Mapu's value should NOT be put pigeonholed at any one position. I know a lot of people are looking at him as a Dugger clone, and physically he looks like it. Duggar is about to become a FA and picking up his possible replacement is NOT a bad idea in the 3rd round. But let me pose this idea. What if over the next year, this 6'3 kid adds just 10 lbs of muscle and becomes our version of Devin White. We have complained for years about adding sideline to sideline speed and coverage ability at the ILB position. Bentley is competent, but is never going to be the athlete we need there.

Again I HATED the entire 4th round. We came in with 4 picks in the round and PLENTY of players in the round I would be happy to have. I mean if they had taken Kuntz in that round I would have been THRILLED, but a lot I know since HE ended up being an UDFA. I would have been THRILLED to see any one of 3 OT's that were still there.

Now in every mock I did, I drafted an OC who would be a better backup than Ferrentz and provide some overall IOL depth. So the Andrews pick was one I was happy with. But with guys like Warren and Duncan STILL available we essentially use 2 fourth round picks to get a what is essentially a KO guy. I cannot get around that one . OUR FG kicking was well above average last year and wasn't worth 2 picks to get another one. I can't help thinking we blew several opportunities in that 4th round.

With the rest, you are essentially throwing darts at the wall. I think they have some very interesting long shots with those rounds so I guess, I'm OK with it.

Now that I've stated my ALMOST knee jerk reaction to this draft, we now have to wait the requisite 3 years to find out how it REALLY turns out, and pretty much all the time we've spent on this exercise has been wasted.

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m happy with the draft. Value wasn’t there for Tackle or WR, or rather, better value was for CB and DE.

So am I.. we also have to keep in mind.. if any of the players we drafted turn out to be productive players they aren't likely to see a second contract here. So I enjoy them while they are here!

 

[Real fan 02]

Wish they would have gotten a TE, and a receiving back. But if one of the wideouts pan out, A-plus

Agreed! On TE I'm sure they'll sign an UDFA or another veteran that gets released during camp for depth. We have 2 pretty good pass catcher's in Henry and Gisecki.. Gisecki is just what I want a pass catching TE.. someone the defense has to key in on.

 

[Steve102]

I have not voted yet, I am not sure how to. Gonzalez is a spectacular pick, the 4th round is meh, and the late rounds have boom or bust potential, except in the 6th, with the best punter available.

 

[PScottman]

If Wise goes down

Not only that - Wise played way too many snaps early and faded at the end as well. DE rotation remains a key to season long capability.

 

[Real fan 02]

I have not voted yet, I am not sure how to. Gonzalez is a spectacular pick, the 4th round is meh, and the late rounds have boom or bust potential, safe in the 6th, with the best punter available.

Gonzales is exactly what the defense needs.. something about this kid oozes stardom, and day 1 starter. To me he should be the answer for Diggs. At almost 6"2 he's physical, fast,smart and tough! Perfect patriots CB DNA.. yeah well see how the other rounds go..

I do like the Keon white at DE we needed depth there and another rusher, I can't count on barmore to available all the time. I also like the ultimately Andrew's replacement with another Andrew's...

 

[Real fan 02]

Not only that - Wise played way too many snaps early and faded at the end as well. DE rotation remains a key to season long capability.

Exactly right don't forget guy may retire, and barmore has been hurt last 2 seasons..

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I give it a B+ overall.

The media & fans were expecting OT as a priority, but obviously the Pats didn't cause they had a clear shot at Broderick Jones and apparently didn't like Dawan Jones. Maybe they had their eyes on Freeland who went just before us in the 4th, and my one criticism is why they didn't move up at the top of the 4th to get him instead of double dipping with Sow and Mafi. They may see LT potential in Sow.

They apparently had no chance on a good TE - Groh said they all were taken too early. When Sam Laporta went in the 2nd you kind of knew that might happen.

I love what they did on D with Gonzo, White, and Mapu. White's a monster.

I like that the interior OL is upgraded and set for years - there's redundancy at both G and C but all of these picks are younger and more athletic that what we have.

Our special teams cost us games last year so with all the picks we had, I loved the kicker and punter picks, along with the 2 corners at the end.

The biggest surprise is the potential of the last 4 picks. The 2 WR's definitely can make the team, and the two CB's are each about 6'2 205 and run 4.33.

Also Groh is great, have complete confidence in what he says and his judgments. Love the speed-demon philosophy they're embracing.

 

[Real fan 02]

He blew out his ankle and had two surgeries to try to fix it. Everyone shows highlights from before the ankle surgeries. He fell to the 6th because noone knows if the ankle will ever be OK. Think Malcolm Mitchell and his knees.

Great information... as it's said when you come into the league injured you don't get healthier..

 

[upstater1]

A - Round 1 • Pick 17 (17) • CB Christian Gonzalez
A - Round 2 • Pick 15 (46) • EDGE Keion White
C - Round 3 • Pick 13 (76) • LB Marte Mapu
C - Round 4 • Pick 5 (107) • C Jake Andrews
A - Round 4 • Pick 10 (112) • K Chad Ryland
A - Round 4 • Pick 15 (117) • G Sidy Sow
B - Round 5 • Pick 9 (144) • G Atonio Mafi
A - Round 6 • Pick 10 (187) • WR Kayshon Boutte
A - Round 6 • Pick 15 (192) • P Bryce Baringer
B - Round 6 • Pick 33 (210) • WR Demario Douglas
C - Round 6 • Pick 37 (214) • DB Ameer Speed
B - Round 7 • Pick 28 (245) • CB Isaiah Bolden

B Grade

I know this is arbitrary but you can't average all the grades to get a final. The top 2 grades are heavily weighted.

 

[archstanton543]

Great information... as it's said when you come into the league injured you don't get healthier..

Rob Gronkowski says "Hi".

 

[duc359]

Pats training/medical staff will do what they can with the ankle, but bone on bone is probably worse than what he might have. The guy is young, flashed early, and his intensity/concentration will either show on the practice field/weight room/training - or he'll be gone. 6% shot at a starting X in '24, or palookaville. In this weak draft, at that slot - a decent shot.

 

[Zuma]

I know this is arbitrary but you can't average all the grades to get a final. The top 2 grades are heavily weighted.

Ok. For example I hated drafting the K in the 4th. What a cluster duck that was. But the bottom line is we need a K badly as Folk is 38/39. So I gave that score an A because I’m not weighing picks with algorithms and he’s very good. Getting a K served a big need.

I do understand your point.

 

[duc359]

Wish they would have gotten a TE, and a receiving back. But if one of the wideouts pan out, A-plus

I wonder if they will try Douglas as a 3rd down back....