Re-grading the Patriots 2023 NFL Draft class after one season

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Round 4, Pick No. 117 - G Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan

The offensive line needed to be prioritized in the 2023 Draft, similar to this year as well. But an eventual starter in Sidy Sow wasn't selected until the fourth round, bringing a lot of question marks to Belichick's decision to focus on the defense early on.

Because the o-line continued to be a problem throughout the following season, outside of mostly Mike Onwenu and a stretch of good play from Trent Brown, Sow was thrown to the wolves fairly quickly and started in 13 games. He mostly played at right guard, lining up there for 764 snaps, but also had a detour at left tackle for just 8 snaps during the year.

His performance throughout the season wasn't anything to rave about, but it wasn't bad enough to believe he couldn't be a solid fixture on the offensive line in the future. He allowed five sacks,, four hits, and 18 hurries, which isn't too great, yet he was far from the worst player of the unit.

With the O-line expected to be a focus in the draft this year, it's difficult to say where Sow will fit in for the 2024 season. He proved he had the potential to be an eventual starter, so we'll have to wait and see what Jerod Mayo ultimately decides.

Grade: C+

Round 5, Pick No. G Atonio Mafi, UCLA

Similar to the player taken just before him in the draft, Atonio Mafi was drafted to help improve a mediocre offensive line as the Patriots hoped to revamp their roster to set up for a more successful season.

We know that's not what happened, and a lot it is due to the shortcomings of the offense in particular, and perhaps one of the problems was throwing rookies into the mix before the were ready.

Like Sow, Mafi was one of those players expected to be a magical fix to a struggling offense, only to struggle to gain any footing due to the incompetent performances around him.

He allowed five sacks, three quarterback hits, and 24 hurries through 458 offensive snaps, spending most of the season at left guard in place of an injured Cole Strange. It's unclear whether Strange will be ready for the start of the 2024 season, so Mafi could be his replacement until he returns. But it seems clear he would be better off in a solid role than a rotating one.

Grade: C

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