The New England Patriots are likely to stay patient in terms of player acquisition until after the NFL draft. Bill Belichick has no shortage of holes on his roster, but he’s likely to get a third- and sixth-round draft choice in 2023 from the compensatory pick formula after the departures of cornerback J.C. Jackson and guard Ted Karras. So the Patriots coach is probably waiting to add talent until the Monday after the draft when free-agent acquisitions no longer impact the compensatory pick formula.
Let’s dive into a mock draft as we prepare for year where, as of now, the Patriots have eight picks.