Patriots: A projection of the team’s biggest draft needs in 2023

The New England Patriots are at the halfway point of their season and it makes sense to look at the current roaster and project ahead to the 2023 draft and where the team should target its choices.

Grades have been handed out on their 2022 performances to date but it’s not too soon to take stock and outline where they should go positionally as the 2023 draft looms, as well.

Of course, where the team should go and where they do allocate their draft picks positionally are two paths that seldom cross with the New England Patriots.

Too often they confound their fans and experts alike with not only the positions they choose when but also the choices they make at those positions.

Local Boston media critical of Patriots draft approach in recent years

Even top Patriots beat writers are often left scratching their heads as well as other observers at the Patriots draft pick strategy. One clarifying factor though was Mike Reiss, ESPN’s Patriots beat person who outlined their rather confounding strategy this way,

"The final number of realistic draft options for the Patriots was around 35 to 40 this year, carefully whittled down from more than 2,000 at the start of the process. The majority of NFL teams are in the hundreds of prospects on their draft boards. Belichick’s decision-making process on draft day is obviously affected by such a small list, which is the impetus for his frequent trades up and down the board. He has specific targets and manipulates the draft board accordingly."

That notwithstanding, let’s take a look at where the Patriots should draft and when from the mid-season vantage point.