Patriots 2023 NFL Draft: Why trading down in draft makes sense
The New England Patriots are scheduled to be on the clock with the 14th pick when the NFL Draft commences in Kansas City on April 27 Barring a trade prior, the Patriots will have lots of options.
The team’s No. One need in this space’s opinion is at offensive tackle. With two immobile quarterbacks leading the QB depth chart, this is not an option but an imperative. Unfortunately, there’s a problem.
It’s quite possible that the top three offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr., Peter Skoronski (actually more of a guard), and Broderick Jones could be off the board when the New England Patriots are on the clock.
In addition, a favorite here, Iowa’s versatile defensive end plus, Lukas Van Ness is rocketing up mock drafts and might be off the board, as well.
So with these depressing facts in mind, how can the New England Patriots, assuming offensive tackle is a top priority for the team (Disclosure: never assume the logic with the Pats’ drafting), still knock the 2023 draft out-of-the park?
New England Patriots can work the draft to their advantage
The New England Patriots last year in a move praised in this space, traded down from their 21st pick to the 29th pick in a trade with the eventual Super Bowl Champion, Kansas City Chiefs.
Nfl.com summarized the trade this way:
"New England and Kansas City established a line of communication on Thursday night when the Chiefs dialed the Patriots and executed a trade that moved Kansas City up from No. 29 to No. 21. Kansas City sent New England the 29th, 94th and 121st picks in that deal."
The Patriots then somewhat predictably reached way up the board for a projected third-round talent, Cole Strange. That the trade was lauded here but the selection of Strange was soundly panned.
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Major reaches aren’t looked at positively here. Strange was broadly looked at as a third-round talent. That’s where he should have been selected.
Had they subsequently traded down again, that move would also have been praised. That scenario may just be a scenario that could benefit the extremely needy team this year.
Patriots can accumulate lots of picks by trading down
Assuming the best offensive tackles along with Van Ness are off the board, then a trading down scenario(s) could be a tremendous asset.
With needs all over the field, it could benefit the team greatly to trade down once, twice, or even three times to accumulate more top-three-round, aka premium draft picks.
Solid tackles could be available at the end of the first round or early second. These may include Dawand Jones, gigantic Ohio State right tackle, Cody Mauch, North Dakota State’s versatile guard/tackle, or possibly Anton Harrison of Oklahoma, a left tackle prospect, among others.
Any of these three (or two of them?) plus others would be solid choices. Then, in addition, the team will have a bunch of additional premium picks to address other positions of need up and down the roster. These include cornerback, wide receiver, defensive tackle, tight end, etc.
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The team has great options. Certainly, it’s always interesting to speculate that they could actually secure a true No. One wide receiver to add to their languid offense. It certainly is an exciting prospect.
Unfortunately, this team has proven incapable of hitting on high picks at wide receiver or cornerback for that matter in the draft. Strengthening both lines and then moving on to the more “skill” positions is the suggestion here.
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The team won’t do that probably, of course. That’s the New England Patriots way. Even so, the hope here is, if they revert to form, they at least won’t reach for the sky for their picks.
The New England Patriots need not just a good draft but a great one. Reaches aren’t going to get that done, at all.