With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, who the Patriots may decide to draft in the first round is becoming the most discussed topic recently.
Because they have a prime position with pick 14, they have several good options to choose from that would immediately fill major needs on the team.
But who are they most likely to go with?
We know they have reportedly narrowed their search down to cornerback, offensive tackle, or wide receiver, the three biggest needs on the team. And these are just five potential prospects they may choose come draft night.
Zay Flowers – WR – Boston College
I mean, this one is obvious, right?
The Boston College receiver landing with the team that represents the state of Massachusetts would be too much of a fitting ending, but it seems far more probable as the weeks go on.
Addressing the glaring need for more talent on the offense and within the wide receiver corps, the Patriots taking Zay Flowers in the first round would be an immediate start to that process.
Because he is primarily a slot receiver, he may not seem like the best fit after seeing the free agent departures and signings. Still, he’s a movable weapon that has already thrived working with Bill O’Brien during the Shrine Bowl earlier this year. He even spent an entire day in Foxboro during a top-30 visit last month, learning the New England offense directly from the offensive coordinator.
Phill Perry of NBC Sports Boston broke down what Flowers would bring to the offense if drafted, detailing the versatility of his game as one of his best attributes.
"“For Bill O’Brien, who we know has the ability to free up slot receivers in the Patriots offense, Flowers would be a dynamic do-it-all type. Short-to-intermediate routes … end-arounds … screens … But there’s more to his game than that. Flowers doesn’t look like a classic down-the-field threat (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), but he can test corners and safeties deep with the juice he possesses.”"
Adding Flowers into the mix would add more speed to the current wide receiver room and a great separator, which has been an issue for Patriots receivers over the years. He may not be the biggest, flashiest, or “the guy” some fans are hoping for, but Flowers would undoubtedly become a prominent fixture within the offense in no time.
Darnell Wright – OT – Tennessee
It’s no secret that the Patriots have struggled to maintain a healthy and productive offensive line over the last few years, impacting the quarterbacks’ performance during games.
They have already addressed one of the most significant issues facing the linemen in releasing Matt Patricia from his position as the OL coach and hired Adrian Klemm to take over those duties after a short stint with Oregon.
Now that they are set to have proper coaching, addressing the position is even more critical to a successful offense, and they start that by taking Darnell Wright in the first round.
In recent weeks, Wright has slowly climbed draft boards around the league, as he had previously been considered a day-two selection. But after an impressive showing at the NFL Combine in February, he’s now become the third-ranked prospect at the position by PFF.
If the Patriots choose to address the OL in round one, Wright would be one of the more versatile choices. He has experience playing all over the line as a four-year starter at Tennessee, which would help fill Isaiah Wynn’s spot or even Trent Brown’s if he continues to show inconsistency on the left side.
Wright has the size (6’5″ and 333 lbs.) and speed (ran a 5.01-second 40-yard dash at the Combine) that would greatly benefit the offense overall. His tape is impressive, especially his performance against top EDGE prospect Will Anderson, making him a potential steal for New England at 14.
Christian Gonzalez – CB – Oregon
As one of the top three positions on the team that the Patriots are likely to address in round one, selecting the second-ranked cornerback wouldn’t be a bad option to go with.
Depending on which mock draft you look at, Christian Gonzalez hasn’t fallen out of the top 10 very often. But on the chance that he does, the Patriots should jump at the opportunity to take him. That’s what draft expert Mel Kiper had Bill Belichick do in his latest mock in an attempt to help build a better secondary after the retirement of Devin McCourty and likely switch to safety by Jalen Mills.
Kiper pegged Gonzalez as one of the three players the Patriots will target in the first round and used their need to compete in a challenging conference as a reason to make the pick.
"“Gonzalez is the bigger corner, and in the AFC against all these elite quarterbacks, matching up in coverage is critical. Gonzalez would give them something in terms of length that they need.”"
At 6-foot-1, he would be among the tallest of the secondary group, bringing the much-needed height to compete with some of the most dynamic receivers in the AFC. He would also bring consistency to the team with his performance and ball-hawking skills that any team would love to have.
Broderick Jones – OT – Georgia
As one of the desired positions the Patriots hope to draft in round one, taking Broderick Jones would be another excellent option for their offensive line.
Ranked just two spots below Darnell Wright, Jones is an insanely talented blocker who makes it nearly impossible for defenders to get through him. His size and natural athleticism would be a perfect fit at left tackle, with an explosive play style that would make an incredible difference for the offense overall.
The experts have projected him to not be an immediate starter, primarily due to his less than two seasons as a starter at Georgia. However, he possesses all the tools and abilities to develop into a monster left tackle that could be a starter for years to come.
Because the Patriots signed Calvin Anderson in free agency, he would likely be behind Brown on game days. It may not be the ideal scenario to draft a player “not deemed as a starter” in the first round, but the upside Jones has shown proves he’s a quality player that will thrive with the Patriots coaching staff.
Plus, he was brought in for a top-30 visit in Foxboro this month, indicating that the team is interested in what he has to offer. And he’s still projected as a first-round selection, which isn’t an accident.
(Because the Patriots need to go after an offensive tackle in the early rounds, Broderick Jones and Darnell Wright are just two of the options they may have available at 14 or would be able to move up a couple slots to take. They’ve shown the most interest in these two tackles for their first round pick, but could go in a different direction if other options (i.e., Paris Johnson Jr. or Peter Skoronski) fall to them on draft night.)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – WR – Ohio State
The wide receiver class of 2023 is considered deep but also unexciting. There are not any prospects that necessarily scream, “I’m the best one of the bunch!” but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned most experts’ trust as the WR1 this year.
Like Zay Flowers, he is also projected as a slot receiver which are known to thrive in the Patriots’ offensive scheme. He’s touted as being so good out of the slot that even PFF suggested teams not known for using receivers there should draft someone else while simultaneously comparing him to Patriots’ great Julian Edelman.
"“If you don’t have a well-defined slot role in your offense, JSN isn’t worth a first-rounder. If you do, he should be your WR1.”"
Showing signs of a New England fan favorite AND a player needing a well-defined slot role in an offense? The Patriots seem like the perfect fit.
The biggest problem the team will face if they do have their eyes on Smith-Njigba is whether he will be available at 14, plus selecting him means you’re relying on the breakout performance he had in 2021 as what he would bring to the team. He missed nearly all of the 2022 season to injury, thus becoming a bit more of a questionable pick come draft night.
But that 2021 performance is not one to overlook. Smith-Njigba totaled 95/112 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games, averaging 16.8 yards per catch. If he could bring that type of production to the Patriots, they would be fools to pass on him.
(Other than Zay Flowers and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Patriots have also shown a lot of interest in USC’s WR Jordan Addison, who they had in for a top-30 visit in recent weeks.)