Checking in on Patriots 2023 NFL Draft class
With the Patriots only playing for pride and to play spoiler against the opposition, now is the perfect time to put as many rookies on the field as possible over the final two weeks of the season.
The Patriots selected 12 players in the 2023 NFL Draft, and nine remain on the 53-man roster with Week 17 on the horizon.
Let’s check in on where the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks stand with two games left on the schedule.
Round 1, Pick 17: CB Christian Gonzalez
PFF Grade: 80.8
One of the most disappointing aspects of the Patriots’ 2023 season was that Gonzalez’s campaign ended after just four games due to a shoulder injury. The former Oregon defender let up just 16 catches on 24 targets for 157 yards with an interception and two pass breakups, per PFF, as not just one of the best rookie cornerbacks but one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
Round 2, Pick 46: DE Keion White
PFF Grade: 62.3
White is a freak athlete at 6-foot- 5, 290 pounds with the ability to play on the edge and along the interior. The Georgia Tech product is sixth on the team with 18 pressures and 13th with 437 defensive snaps, per PFF. He has yet to put it all together but could be dominant when he does.
Round 3, Pick 76: S Marte Mapu
PFF Grade: 49.8
Mapu has played sparingly this season behind nearly every-down starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.
Mapu, a small-school prospect out of Sacramento State, does have some positional flexibility, having taken snaps on the line of scrimmage, in the box, at free safety, in the slot and even outside. It does seem like the best role for him at some point will be as a hybrid linebacker/strong safety.
Mapu picked off Patrick Mahomes and forced a fumble on a punt this season. He’s allowed nine catches on 12 targets for 128 yards with one touchdown, one
interception and one pass breakup, per PFF.
Round 4, Pick 107: OL Jake Andrews
PFF Grade: N/A
Andrews has yet to play on offense this season as starting center David Andrews’ backup. That could change this weekend, however, as the Patriots continue to mix and match pieces to fill in for injured starting left guard Cole Strange. The
former Troy lineman is undersized, but it’s worth seeing what kind of positional flexibility he has before the season is through.
Round 4, Pick 112: K Chad Ryland
PFF Grade: 40.0
It’s been a disappointing year for Ryland, but the former Terp came up big for the team Sunday night with a 56-yard game-winning field goal.
Overall this season, Ryland is 21- of-22 on extra points and just 15- of-23 on field goals. He’s 7- of-13 on field goals of 40-plus yards.
Round 4, Pick 117: OL Sidy Sow
PFF Grade: 62.4
The Patriots used Sow almost exclusively at right tackle throughout the summer before moving him back to his primary college position of guard during the season. PFF has him graded much better as a run blocker (68.4) than a pass protector (46.2). The Eastern Michigan grad let up four sacks and 22 total pressures on 400 pass-block snaps this season, per PFF.
Round 4, Pick 144: G Atonio Mafi
PFF Grade: 29.5
Mafi spent most of the summer as the Patriots’ top backup guard, but he’s struggled in games.
He’s allowed four sacks and 26 total pressures in just 254 pass-block snaps this season. James Ferentz started at left guard in Week 16, but Mafi, who went to UCLA, took over for most of the game.
Round 6, Pick 187: WR Kayshon Boutte
PFF Grade: 47.4
The former LSU five-star recruit has been targeted seven times but caught just two passes for 19 yards.
Round 6, Pick 192: P
Bryce Baringer
PFF Grade: 70.3 Baringer has been solid as a rookie and has placed the most punts inside the 20 (36) in the NFL this season. He’s 17th in punt average, 24th in net punt average, 18th in return rate and 26th in hangtime.
Round 6, Pick 210: WR Demario Douglas
PFF Grade: 76.1
One of the biggest steals of the 2023 NFL Draft, Douglas ranks fourth among qualified rookie wide receivers with a 77.3 receiving grade this season, having caught 44 passes on 66 targets for 517 yards in
12 games.
His speed and agility flashes on nearly every single touch.
Round 6, Pick 214: CB Ameer Speed
PFF Grade: 72.3
Speed was waived in October and claimed by the Colts.
Round 7, Pick 245: CB Isaiah Bolden
PFF Grade: N/A
Bolden has missed the season after being placed on injured reserve before cuts with a concussion suf fered in a preseason game against the Packers.