The New England Patriots eschewed their usual NFL draft night antics, trading up to collect more late-round picks, but still selected Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th pick. Gonzalez, who transferred to Oregon after two seasons in Colorado, is versatile. Skillset and was effective both in coverage and against the run, recording four interceptions and 50 tackles last season. Gonzalez was a first-team All-Pac-12 pick after leading Oregon with four interceptions and seven pass breakups, posting 50 tackles and a block. Kick in 12 starts. He fills an immediate need for the Patriots, who were looking for a cornerback to pair with Jonathan Jones. He will compete with a pair of second-year players in Jake Jones and Marcus Jones. Veteran Jalen Mills is also in the mix, but is expected to move back to safety after re-signing in free agency. Gonzalez said he’s focused on competing right away, motivated by seeing cornerback Sous Gardner’s impact for the Jets as a rookie. Gardner was a first-time All-Pro this past season. That’s what I want to do hopefully,” Gonzalez said. “I just want to come in and compete and learn. . went, but said he was happy to be able to represent his Colombian heritage by wearing white. A custom suit with a Colombian flag stitched inside. His father, Hector, was born in South America and moved to the U.S. when he was 18 to play basketball for UTEP. was gone. Gonzalez describes his game as “versatile, fast, long, tall, can move around. Learn all the nuances of the defense and how it all comes together,” he said. The 20-year-old native of Carrollton, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas. . New England ran its streak of making at least one trade during the 19-year draft. During coach Bill Belichick’s tenure, the Patriots declined to make a draft-day trade just once, in 2004. The Patriots, who held the 14th pick during the night , they traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while they were on the clock, to receive the 17th pick and a fourth-round pick. With Patricia out and Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, the Patriots could improve the offense even more to help quarterback Mack Jones get back on track. New England ranked 17th in scoring offense and 26th in total offense last season, a significant drop from the 2021 season. New England let the team’s leading receivers Jacoby Meyers and Nelson Akholar sign elsewhere in free agency over the past three seasons, but the Pats were able to land wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is coming off a Super Bowl title. Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots were also able to land tight end Mike Gesicki in free agency from the division rival Miami Dolphins after signing tight end Johnnu Smith to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in just two years. New England also bolstered its offensive line by adding Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in free agency. The team allowed 41 sacks last season compared to 28 in 2021 and let Isaiah Wynn walk in free agency in the 2018 first round. The 2023 NFL Draft is being held Thursday through Saturday in the plaza outside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s draft will consist of seven rounds with a total of 259 picks. Patriots Draft Tracker: Round 1 – Pick 17 – Christian Gonzalez (from Steelers) Round 2 – Pick 46 Round 3 – Pick 76 (from Panthers) Round 4 – Pick 107 (from Rams) Round 4 – Pick 117 Round 4 – Pick 120 (Steelers from) Round 4 – Pick 135 (compensatory selection) Round 6 – Pick 184 (from Raiders) Round 6 – Pick 187 (from Panthers) Round 6 – Pick 92 R6 – Pick 210 (compensatory selection) Round 7 – Pick 245 (From Bill by Falcons)
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Foxboro, Mass. —The New England Patriots ditched their usual NFL draft night antics, trading back to collect more late-round picks, but still selected Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th pick.
Gonzalez, who transferred to Oregon after two seasons in Colorado, has versatile skills and was effective both in coverage and against the run, posting four interceptions and 50 tackles last season.
Gonzalez was first team All-Pac-12 after leading Oregon with four interceptions and seven pass breakups, posting 50 tackles and blocking a kick in 12 starts.
He fills an immediate need for the Patriots, who were looking for a cornerback to pair with Jonathan Jones. He will compete with a pair of second-year players in Jake Jones and Marcus Jones. Veteran Jalen Mills is also in the mix, but is expected to move back to safety after re-signing in free agency.
Gonzalez said he’s focused on competing right away after being inspired by watching cornerback Sauce Gardner’s impact for the Jets as a rookie. Gardner was a first-time All-Pro this past season.
“To be able to see someone come in and make an instant impact means a lot. That’s what I want to do hopefully,” Gonzalez said. “I just want to come in and compete and learn. … I’m really excited for the opportunity to learn from the best.”
Gonzalez was in Kansas City, Missouri, to walk the stage after his selection, which many predicted would happen sooner.
He admitted he was surprised he slipped off the board a bit, but said he was happy to represent his Colombian heritage by wearing a custom white suit with a Colombian flag stitched on the inside. His father, Hector, was born in South America and moved to the US when he was 18 to play basketball for UTEP.
Gonzalez described his game as “versatile, fast, long, tall, can move around”.
“Someone who wants to learn all the nuances of conservation and how it all comes together,” he said.
The 20-year-old hails from Carrollton, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas.
New England had a 19-year streak of making at least one trade during the draft. During coach Bill Belichick’s tenure, the Patriots declined to make a draft-day trade just once, in 2004.
The Patriots, who held the 14th pick during the night, traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while they were on the clock, to acquire the 17th pick and a fourth-round pick.
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With Patricia out and Bill O’Brien in as offensive coordinator, the Patriots could further revamp the offense to help quarterback Mack Jones get back on track. New England ranked 17th in scoring offense and 26th in total offense last season, a significant drop from the 2021 season.
New England let Jacoby Meyers, the team’s leading receiver, sign in each of the last three seasons and Nelson Akholar elsewhere in free agency, but the Pats were able to land wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is coming off a Super Bowl title. Kansas City Chiefs.
After trading tight end Johnnu Smith to the Atlanta Falcons in just two years to a four-year, $50 million deal, the Patriots were also able to land tight end Mike Gesicki in free agency to the division rival Miami Dolphins.
New England also bolstered its offensive line by adding Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in free agency. The team allowed 41 sacks last season, compared to 28 in 2021, and let Isaiah Wynn walk in free agency in the 2018 first round.
The 2023 NFL Draft is being held Thursday through Saturday in the plaza outside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s draft will consist of seven rounds with a total of 259 picks.
Patriots Draft Tracker:
- Round 1 – Pick 17 – Christian Gonzalez (from Steelers)
- Round 2 – Select 46
- Round 3 – Pick 76 (from Panthers)
- Round 4 – Pick 107 (from Rams)
- Round 4 – Pick 117
- Round 4 – Pick 120 (from Steelers)
- Round 4 – Pick 135 (Compensation Pick)
- Round 6 – Pick 184 (from Raiders)
- Round 6 – Pick 187 (from Panthers)
- Round 6 – Pick 192
- Round 6 – Select 210 (Compensatory Selection)
- Round 7 – Pick 245 (from Bills by Falcons)
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