Tag: First round results

Final draft grades round-up for Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez was one of the biggest hits when it came to post-draft grades.

The New England Patriots were at the right place at the right time to draft former Oregon star cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the No. 17 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft.

Even after trading down from pick No. 14, the Patriots still managed to come away with a player many projected as a top-10 draft pick.

Some would have preferred to see New England stay on the offensive side of the ball and draft either a receiver or offensive tackle. But a strong argument could be made that Gonzalez was the best player on the board. Combine that with the fact that the Patriots had a glaring need for an outside corner and it was the perfect pick on paper.

There were plenty of media analysts that agreed considering the move received high marks across the board. Here’s the final round-up of draft grades for the Patriots’ first-round pick.

Twitter had mixed reactions to Patriots drafting Marte Mapu

Twitter had strong reactions to the Patriots drafting Marte Mapu

The New England Patriots took linebacker Marte Mapu out of Sacramento State in the third round with the 76th overall pick at Friday’s continuation of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Big Sky Conference player of the year now makes his way to New England, during a draft that has highlighted the importance of defense for the team.

The Patriots used three draft picks in total on Thursday and Friday—all on the defensive side of the football. Mapu comes to New England with versatility.

Not only was he a tackling machine with the Hornets, but he also came away with two interceptions and six pass deflections. He now gives the Patriots another speedster to boost the defense.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Twitter reactions to the draft selection.

WATCH: Highlights of Patriots’ Marte Mapu in college

Marte Mapu jumps off on tape as an immediate playmaker for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots selected linebacker Marte Mapu out of Sacramento State in the third round with the 76th overall pick on Friday night.

Mapu had a solid career for Sacramento State. His 2022 season was particularly memorable, as he started in 12 games. He recorded four interceptions for 107 yards. He also proved to be a solid tackler during that run, totaling 65 on the year. His versatility was on full display last season, and he gives New England another player that can shift around the defense.

The Patriots also had a visit with him prior to the draft.

New England has had a theme throughout the entire draft so far. Getting younger on defense is a priority.

Kyle Dugger hitting free agency next year is also something to keep in mind. Mapu will have a second year of development by the time Dugger hits free agency, and it will give New England an opportunity to put him into the defense, if Dugger departs

Here are some highlights that show off Mapu’s playmaking ability, as well as his ability to be versatile in a defense.

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WATCH: Highlights of Patriots’ Keion White in college

Patriots rookie edge rusher Keion White was a destroyer on the defensive front last season.

The New England Patriots stuck with the defensive theme of the 2023 NFL draft by selecting Georgia Tech defensive end Keion White 46th overall.

White had 54 tackles and 7.5 sacks in addition to a pass deflection in 2022. He started in all 12 games for Georgia Tech last season and led all defensive lineman with 54 tackles and 14 tackles for a loss.

One of his most highlighted games was a seven-tackle, three-sack game at North Carolina on November 19.

White’s arrival will give New England another rusher at the end position, as the team looks to improve on a unit that recorded 54 sacks last season, which was the fourth-best in the NFL. White measures in at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, and should give the Patriots another disruptive force on the line.

Take a look at his highlights, which will give you a feel for his disruptive backfield presence.

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Full Day 1 results of 2023 NFL draft

How did the draft board shake out on Night 1?

There were plenty of surprises in store as NFL teams kick-started the first night of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday.

Trades were the theme with teams looking to move up and shake up the board. To no one’s surprise, the Patriots were in the business of trading down from No. 14 overall for picks No. 17 and No. 120 from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But it was shocking they were able to do so and still get a legitimate top-10 talent in Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez. It was an A-plus move by coach Bill Belichick, who managed to come away with an elite talent for the future and an extra fourth-round draft pick in the first round.

However, there were other winners on the night, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans. Here’s how the rest of the draft board on Day 1 panned out:

WATCH: Patriots season ticket holders’ live reaction to Christian Gonzalez draft pick

There was a big pop from season ticket holders after the Patriots drafted Christian Gonzalez on Thursday night.

The New England Patriots selected Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, and Patriots’ season ticket holders loved every second of it.

Gonzalez gives the Patriots another corner in a room that needed depth. His athleticism could help the team out tremendously, as they have to face premium quarterback talent in the AFC East division.

Patriots’ season ticket holders will get to see Gonzalez take on some of the top teams in all of football as the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles all come to Gillette Stadium in 2023.

Time will tell how the Gonzalez pick shapes up. For right now, however, many Patriots fans seem excited by the selection, and this video proves it.

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New England Patriots draft grades: Patriots earn an ‘A+’ for Christian Gonzalez pick

The Patriots knocked it out of the park with this draft pick.

New England Patriots fans should be grinning ear-to-ear after a masterclass by coach Bill Belichick at the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Yes, there was a bit of concern when Belichick traded down from the No. 14 overall spot to No. 17 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly when cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba were both still on the board.

But even after trading back, the Patriots still managed to come away with Gonzalez and an extra fourth-round draft pick (No. 120).

Gonzalez was projected as a top-10 player on most mock draft boards heading into the event. So the fact that he was still available that late for the Patriots is shocking. It’s an A-plus selection for Belichick, who managed to come away with an extra draft pick and a high-end draft prospect.

The Patriots added size and physicality to a defensive backfield that already had Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones and Jack Jones. Gonzalez joining the mix could turn the cornerback room into one of the most formidable groups in the entire league.

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Analysis of Patriots picking Christian Gonzalez in the first round

Did the Patriots make the right pick?

The New England Patriots traded down three spots and still came away with one of the best defensive players in the 2023 NFL draft in Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

It was a no-brainer selection for coach Bill Belichick with an opportunity to add a legitimate top-10 talent in this year’s rookie class at No. 17.

Gonzalez is a big, physical cornerback that can match up outside with the best receivers in the NFL. He finished his collegiate career with 50 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass deflections in 2022, when quarterbacks were rarely looking to throw in his direction.

Gonzalez has the ability to vault to the top of the depth chart for a Patriots team that desperately needed size. Jonathan Jones is as tough as they come in the defensive backfield, but he was undersized and struggled when matching up against elite receivers, such as his Week 12 meeting with Minnesota Vikings star wideout Justin Jefferson last season.

Not only is Gonzalez a great coverage corner, but he’s also a willing tackler with tremendous playmaking ability.

We could look back on this pick one day as the steal of the draft. Not only did the Patriots come away with a top talent, but they also gained another fourth-round pick in the process in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was a perfect example of Belichick playing chess, while everyone else plays checkers.

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WATCH: Highlights of Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez in college

These highlights will get you excited about the Patriots’ newest rookie Christian Gonzalez.

The New England Patriots needed depth and playmaking ability at the secondary spot, and they were able to select a playmaking corner from Oregon.

With their first pick of the 2023 NFL draft, New England selected corner Christian Gonzalez 17th overall out of Oregon. This gives New England another impact piece on the defensive side of the football, as they look to keep pace with the high-powered offenses of the AFC East.

Gonzalez had a tremendous 2022 season while playing for Oregon. He was named to the First-Team All-Pac-12 after a career-season last year. He tallied four interceptions for 118 yards, as well as 35 tackles and seven pass deflections on the year.

New England was able to get a projected top-10 talent in Gonzalez, while continuing to bolster an already strong unit in the secondary.

Take a look at his highlights, which will give you a feel for his playmaking ability.

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Twitter reacts to Patriots getting absolute steal in Christian Gonzalez

Here’s what people are saying on Twitter after the Patriots drafted Christian Gonzalez No. 17 overall.

It’s always tough to know how an NFL draft is going to go until names start coming off the board. That was the case for the New England Patriots on Thursday night after trading down to No. 17 and still coming away with Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, Gonzalez was perceived by many to be a top-10 pick. So it’s understandable why Patriots fans were a bit perturbed when it was initially announced that the team was trading down with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Yet, somehow, Gonzalez was still on the board when the Patriots came back up, and Belichick made the selection to solidify his defensive backfield.

Along with picking up Gonzalez, the Patriots also got another fourth-round pick from the Steelers. That’s quite the haul for Belichick and company in the first round.

Here’s what people were saying about the selection on Twitter.