3 positions the Patriots shouldn’t target in the first round
As the 2023 NFL draft nears, determining the best route for the Patriots in the first round is beginning to cause debate among fans.
While most hope for a great offensive tackle or even a cornerback, many want to see Bill Belichick make selections differently than he has by picking the best available player when they’re on the clock.
Usually, New England has been known for going against the norms and choosing an obscure player that experts had going in a later round. But with so many holes to fill this offseason, it may be time for Belichick to try a new approach.
Several positions have been deemed a priority in free agency and the draft, but a few shouldn’t be a focus with the 14th overall pick.
Quarterback
Despite the unsettled feelings regarding Mac Jones and whether or not he is really a franchise quarterback, targeting the position in the first round would be a giant mistake.
Yes, quality talents are available in the draft this year that some may wish the Patriots could get their hands on. However, choosing to use the highest draft pick the team has had in several years on a quarterback when Jones is entering just his third NFL season seems counter-productive, especially for all those who haven’t gotten off the Zappe train.
Jones may have yet to earn the majority of fans’ approval, but with the hiring of Bill O’Brien and Adrian Klemm, the offense should be significantly better than it was for the entirety of last season, including Jones’ performance as well.
Additionally, if Belichick really decided to make a move for a QB, he would have to give up a lot of draft capital to do so. The top-tier quarterbacks will be long gone by the 14th pick, with all of the quarterback-needy teams obviously in the top ten.
Wide receiver
If you stay up to date with the expert’s mock drafts, you’ll notice that many of them have the Patriots picking a receiver in the first round. Most attribute it to Belichick’s weak history when choosing receivers overall, particularly higher in the draft, and it’s well-known that New England’s receiving corps hasn’t been the best in the league over the last few seasons.
While selecting a top projected receiver wouldn’t be a complete disaster, it would be fair to state other positions are more in need of improvement than the receivers.
Currently, the Patriots will have Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, and Tyquan Thornton rostered for the upcoming season. Plus, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Of course, free agency begins before the draft, leaving the door open for any of these guys to be traded or cut. But that also allows Belichick to sign or trade for top-name receivers in the league, including Tee Higgins or Jerry Jeudy.
With a fresh mind back with the team in Bill O’Brien, we’re likely to see a transformative year for the pass-catchers and see them at their fullest potential. We know what Bourne can be, we saw it in his first season with the Patriots, and Parker flashed last year and can hopefully build upon that. In addition, Thornton will have an entire pro season under his belt, giving him the experience and knowledge of what to work on and improve this offseason.
Should Belichick draft a receiver in this draft? Sure, why not? But because they have been unable to solidify a true WR1, trading for one seems like the best solution.
Running back
Typically, running backs are only selected high in any draft if they are an out-of-this-world type of player. With Damien Harris set to hit free agency next month, some may think replacing him will be necessary for the draft this year. However, because Belichick selected Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. last year, there’s less need to add more backs to the roster.
It isn’t easy to know the future of Harris with the team. He was drafted by the Patriots in 2019 and became a staple of the offense in 2020. With the arrival of Rhamondre Stevenson the following year, the two backs split reps out of the backfield and were a dominant duo amongst the best in the league.
Flash forward to this offseason; Harris may be re-signed depending on what kind of contract he is looking for. Belichick is known for letting players walk, especially young running backs, so most are not expecting Harris to return for 2023. However, if there are no plans to trade for or to sign a running back in free agency, Harris will probably be back in New England.
As far as the draft goes, Belichick may pick an RB in a later round if one he finds interesting is available. But since more prominent weaknesses need to be addressed, he almost certainly wouldn’t draft one high.