2023 NFL Draft Recap: New England Patriots

The 2023 NFL Draft has concluded after months of scrutiny about these prospects, potential landing spots, team and scheme fits, and so on. Now we get to start the entire process all over again now that we have team landing spots for these college prospects with their new NFL teams.

Today, we tackle the New England Patriots and how they fared in the 2023 NFL Draft.

New England's 2023 NFL Draft Selections:

  • Round 1, Pick 17 - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
  • Round 2, Pick 46 - Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
  • Round 3, Pick 76 - Marte Mapu, S, Sacramento St.
  • Round 4, Pick 107 - Jake Andrews, G, Troy
  • Round 4, Pick 112 - Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
  • Round 4, Pick 117 - Sidy Sow, G, Eastern Michigan
  • Round 5, Pick 144 - Atonio Mafi, OL, UCLA
  • Round 6, Pick 187 - Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
  • Round 6, Pick 192 - Bryce Baringer, P, Michigan St.
  • Round 6, Pick 210 - Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
  • Round 6, Pick 214 - Ameer Speed, CB, Michigan St.
  • Round 7, Pick 245 - Isaiah Bolden, CB, Jackson St.

The 2023 Fantasy Football Impact:

The Patriots had an astonishing 12 draft picks and focused to use five of the picks on defense, three of them on the offensive line, and two of the picks on a kicker and punter. With their first-round pick, the Patriots were fortunate to have cornerback Christian Gonzalez fall to them at 17. Gonzalez is a cornerback to consider adding to all IDP leagues. Over his last couple of seasons between Colorado and Oregon, Gonzalez racked up 103 total tackles and four interceptions in his final season. Gonzalez should be a starter for the Patriots and could be a nice IDP to add to your dynasty team.

Additionally, if you’re looking to select a defensive end in your IDP rookie draft, Keion White may be a player to contemplate adding. In White’s senior season, he produced 54 total tackles and had 7.5 sacks. White was originally a tight end and is now a converted defensive end that you may want to draft in the fourth round of your rookie draft.

The Patriots did not draft their first skill-position player until the sixth round. With overall pick 183, New England drafted Kayshon Boutte from LSU. At one point during his collegiate career, Boutte was thought of as having first-round talent but has failed to live up to those expectations after an ankle injury derailed his sophomore season. After having a stellar freshman season when Boutte had 45 receptions for 735 yards and five touchdowns. Through six games in 2021, the wide receiver was well on his way to shattering those marks with 38 receptions, 509 yards, and nine touchdowns. Unfortunately, that is when Boutte suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Now after a subpar junior year, Boutte declared for the draft and now has a chance to make an impact on the Patriots' offense. With mainly JuJu Smith-Schuster, injury-prone DeVante Parker, and Tyquan Thornton in front of him on the depth chart, Boutte will have a chance to shine. Hopefully, in Mac Jones's second season, offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien decides to open up the offense more, instead of being mainly a running team. Dynasty managers should look to add Boutte in the late-third to the early fourth round.  

Demario Davis was the only other skilled position player the Patriots drafted. The Liberty product had his best season by far in 2022 with 79 receptions, 993 yards, and six touchdowns. Even though he stands in at 5’-8” and 165 lbs soaking wet, the wide receiver illustrated he has NFL speed with his 4.40 40-yard dash. Davis will more than likely won't get drafted in most dynasty leagues but if you want to take a flier on him in the final round of your deep dynasty league go for it. Otherwise, just add him to your watch list for now.

Undrafted Free Agents of Note

  • Malik Cunningham, QB, Louisville: Cunningham is a dual-threat quarterback that was given a record-setting $200,000.00 guaranteed signing bonus, which is the most ever received by an undrafted free agent. If that is not a clue that the Patriots wanted him on the team then nothing is. Cunningham also stated that he will play wherever the Patriots want him to play. As a dual-threat quarterback, he rushed for 3,179 yards and 50 touchdowns, including rushing for over 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior year. This is definitely an intriguing quarterback/football player that is a must-add in all two-quarterback leagues in the final rounds of your rookie drafts.
  • Johnny Lumpkin, TE, Louisana: Lumpkin is an athletic tight end who measures 6-foot-6 and 268 pounds. The tight end has some upside as he posted career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns (16-143-4 respectively) in his final season with the Ragin Cajuns.

Follow Leo Grandio on Twitter @smooth1074!

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