Tag: draft summary

Twitter had varying reactions to Patriots’ Day 3 draft picks

There were mixed reactions from Patriots fans on Day 3 of the NFL draft.

The New England Patriots had a busy start to Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft, selecting center Jake Andrews, kicker Chad Ryland and interior offensive lineman Sidy Sow with their first three picks in the fourth round.

There were mixed opinions on the heavy focus on the interior offensive line, rather than selecting a tackle or receiver.

But things started to take a turn in the sixth round with the Patriots selecting Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas. That’s when the excitement level started to jump again.

The Patriots addressed defense on the first couple of days and then turned to the offensive line, special teams and receivers on Day 3. Here’s what people were saying on Twitter after the final day of the NFL draft.

Grading every Patriots pick in 2023 NFL draft

How did the Patriots fare in the draft?

The NFL had one of the more unpredictable draft weekends in recent memory with a plethora of trades and players falling or going earlier than expected.

The New England Patriots had their own unique draft when they took 12 players. They usually only select around nine on average. So this came as a shock when many around the league expected them to trade up and get aggressive.

Now that we have had some time to reflect and are in UDFA mode, let’s review each pick and hand out some grades.

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

Kayshon Boutte could be a receiver teams regret passing on.

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 to them in the sixth round. That’s obviously a bold statement, and Boutte has plenty of work ahead of him to prove it to be true.

But the talent is clearly there for him to do it.

He has the speed to create separation consistently, and he’s a home run threat with the ball in his hands. The Patriots were hoping for insanely good value when they took his name off the board on Saturday, and they might get everything they wanted and more.

Here are the three reasons why opposing teams might regret passing on a chance to draft Boutte:

WATCH: Highlights of explosive WR Kayshon Boutte in college

Kayshon Boutte could be the explosive receiving talent Patriots fans have waited for.

The New England Patriots selected LSU wideout Kayshon Boutte in the sixth round with the 187th overall pick. The former college football star joins New England and gives quarterback Mac Jones a new weapon to throw to.

There was a time when Boutte was considered a first-round talent. However, effort level is a big concern with him, and it seems as though that was one of the major reasons why he fell. He managed to put up productive numbers in Baton Rouge. He played in 27 games in three seasons, catching 131 passes for 1,782 yards and 18 touchdowns.

He caught 48 passes for 538 yards and two touchdowns last season. This included a six-catch, 107-yard performance against Georgia in the SEC championship game last year. There is no doubt the talent is there, but it’s just about unlocking it consistently.

This would give the Patriots another weapon on offense and the receiver many fans wanted them to draft throughout the course of the weekend.

The highlights below showcase his playmaking ability, as well as his athleticism.

Patriots select Jackson State CB Isaiah Bolden in seventh round

The Patriots close the show by taking CB Isaiah Bolden in the seventh round.

For their final pick of the 2023 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden with the No. 245 overall pick of the seventh round.

This selection makes it 12 players total the Patriots have taken off the board in this year’s draft.

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Patriots select Michigan State CB Ameer Speed in sixth round

Need for speed? The Patriots drafted CB Ameer Speed to close out the sixth round.

The New England Patriots turned back to the defensive side of the ball by selecting Michigan State cornerback Ameer Speed with the No. 214 pick of the 2023 NFL draft.

Day 3 has been full of offensive and special teams selections, but the Patriots went out and got Speed in hopes of boosting their defensive backfield.

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Patriots select Liberty receiver Demario Douglas in sixth round

New England double dips at wide receiver in the sixth round.

The New England Patriots doubled up at wide receiver in the sixth round by selecting Liberty’s Demario Douglas.

This pick comes after the Patriots picked up LSU wideout Kayshon Boutte.

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Patriots select Michigan State P Bryce Baringer in sixth round

Punter Bryce Baringer is the selection for the Patriots with the No. 192 overall pick.

The New England Patriots got the best punter in the draft on Saturday after using pick No. 192 on Michigan State’s Bryce Baringer.

This is the second special teams player the Patriots have taken on Day 3, with the team taking Maryland kicker Chad Ryland at No. 112 overall.

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Patriots select LSU WR Kayshon Boutte in sixth round

The Patriots finally get a receiver.

The New England Patriots took their first receiver off the 2023 draft board in the sixth round on Saturday after selecting LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

There was a time when Boutte was considered one of the top receiver prospects in the country. We’ll see if he can become that player once again for the Patriots.

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Patriots select UCLA G Atonio Mafi in fifth round

The Patriots continue to load up on interior offensive linemen on Day 3.

After trading the 135th pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, the New England Patriots were back on the clock at No. 144 in the fifth round to select UCLA guard Atonio Mafi.

This is the third interior offensive linemen the Patriots have taken on Day 3 in a clear effort to get stronger up front.

Injuries were an issue for the Patriots in the 2022 season, and it compromised the health of quarterback Mac Jones, who was consistently getting knocked around in the pocket by opposing defensive players.

Mafi joining the offensive front solidifies the interior depth for the team. It also gives New England another high-motor player capable of working up to the second level.

For the Patriots, the big offensive plays will start up front with Mafi and company.

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