Patriots Draft Class ’23: Grades and thoughts on Day 3 selections

The New England Patriots 2023 draft is history with lots of picks to evaluate and a full draft now completed to grade. This was a critical draft and the question is, did the team improve enough to be a contender in the AFC East?

The Grade for Day 1 with the Selection of Christian Gonzalez was a straight A, and an asterisk to note a nice trade-down, as well. It was one of the team’s better draft moves in recent memory.

On Day 2, the team regressed. They reached a bit for Keion White, an edge from Georgia Tech. But after further reflection, White may be a better selection than initially viewed.

White was still a bit of a reach with some observers thinking he was a third-round talent. Others thought he may go in the first round as the NFL did, as well. So on balance, it’s an OK pick.

Picking safety/linebacker Marte Mapu of San Diego State in the third round, however, is a major reach and a very Patriot-like move. He’s primarily a special teamer and was even looked at as a possible non-draftee. It was a poor pick.

On to Day 3.

The New England Patriots Day 3 was uninspiring

On Day 3 the Patriots had a boatload of picks and wound up making nine more selections. The team began drafting at pick 107 with a center/Guard, Jake Andrews from Troy. How can you not like a Patriots center named Andrews?

The team desperately needs a backup center and one with versatility like Andrews, a la Ted Karras is a nice fit. Yet, bleacherreport.com had him projected as a sixth or seventh-round pick.

The selection positionally is just fine, but it’s a definite reach for a player who might very well have been available later on.