The New England Patriots selected a whopping 12 players in the 2023 NFL Draft, their deepest class in 13 years. They addressed all three phases of the game and all their picks have their own unique qualities.
Here are the most interesting things to know about the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks…
Christian Gonzalez Almost Quit Football
The Oregon Ducks take the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington on September 24, 2022 (Eric Evans Photography)
Believe it or not, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez – widely considered one of the best overall prospects in the 2023 draft – almost quit football altogether.
“Definitely. I was in high school my sophomore year,” Gonzalez said in his introductory presser. “I was put on JV as a backup just because the coaches there thought I wasn’t strong enough in the weight room. They didn’t think I lifted enough weights. Then I ended up transferring.
“I just pushed through, leaned on my family. Like you said, I’m very glad, very excited I did not make that decision because I would not be in this position I am today.”
Good thing Gonzalez kept at it. Hopefully, the Patriots are a big beneficiary of his persistence.
Keion White Had No Pre-Draft Contact With The Patriots
Pittsburgh, PA – October 1, 2022: The Pitt Panthers football team hosts the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an ACC contest at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh – Credit: Jeffrey Gamza
This was interesting: defensive end Keion White said he “didn’t have any” pre-draft contact of his own with the Patriots and it was a “surprise” to hear his name called when New England came up. But Bill Belichick said the Patriots were at White’s Pro Day for Georgia Tech and indicated the team did their homework on him before drafting him. Sometimes it just works out that way.
“Maybe we know him better than he knows us,” Belichick quipped. “But we’ll get to know each other soon.”
Marte Mapu Had A Lot Of Teams Calling
Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu (Sacramento State Athletics)
Linebacker/safety hybrid Marte Mapu seemed like a curious pick for the Patriots in the third round, but he wasn’t completely off the board. Mapu told reporters in his introductory call that the Patriots were one of 15 (!) pre-draft visits Mapu took with NFL teams. So, perhaps Mapu was inevitably going to get taken earlier than most draft analysts expected.
Jake Andrews Played For A Former Patriots Coach
Troy FB at App State
Jake Andrews has a connection to the Patriots beyond just playing center and having the last name Andrews. He played one season for former Patriots offensive line coach Cole Popovich, who went to Troy in 2022 after leaving the Patriots. Popovich is now back in the NFL as an assistant offensive line coach for the Houston Texans.
“I think them knowing how much I appreciate Coach Popovich and what he meant to me and what he meant to New England, there’s definitely some connection there,” Andrews said.
Kicker Chad Ryland Fancies Himself A ‘Cold-Weather Guy’
Chad Ryland (38).
Maryland Terrapins vs. the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SECU Stadium in College Park, MD on Saturday, November 26, 2022. Taylor McLaughlin/Maryland AthleticsThe Patriots may have finally taken the right approach to their kicker situation in the draft. Not because they traded up, but because they took a kid in Chad Ryland who has experience kicking in bad weather conditions. On top of that, Ryland is confident in his abilities to kick in the cold, wind, snow, and rain in Foxboro.
“I think when you look at cold weather like that, obviously not the most ideal conditions to kick a football and not a lot of people want to kick in that, but I do. I’m a cold weather guy,” Ryland said. “I like the cold. I like the wind. For me, it’s that challenge of bring it on. Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into kicking in those conditions. So the challenge of doing that happened to really develop in terms of ball striking, understanding conditions and just everything that comes with it.
“I love it. Like I don’t shy away from it. It certainly has helped me develop into the kicker I am today. So long story short, I guess I’m thankful for adverse conditions like that.”
Sidy Sow Is A Canadiens Fan
Eastern Michigan OG Sidy Sow lines up for a play. (Eastern Michigan Athletics)
If Sidy Sow turns out to be a real player for the Patriots, New England fans may have some conflicted feelings. Because Sow, a native of Bromont, Quebec, Canada, is a huge Montreal Canadiens fan.
“Of course, till the day I die,” Sow said. “The Montreal Canadiens are my favorite sport team growing up and they may be second now because the Patriots are my favorite now.”
Bruins fans may need to act quickly and turn Sow to the spoked “B” before he gets caught in public wearing Habs gear.
Atonio Mafi’s Rugby Background Toughened Him Up
UCLA Athletics – 2022 UCLA Bruins Football versus the Bowling Green State University Falcons at The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.
September 3rd, 2022
(Copyright Don Liebig/ASUCLA)Of course, the most important thing for Atonio Mafi in New England is whether he can play football at a high level. But his family background is deep-rooted in rugby, and that might help him. Mafi’s father Peter played for the Tongan national rugby team and Atonio played rugby throughout high school. Football eventually took over for Atonio, but he learned some good lessons that should serve him well in the NFL – mainly that rugby toughened him up.
“Obviously, once football started getting on, football kind of outgrew rugby but rugby definitely made me tough, have grit and just be able to get through things that were not always easy,” Mafi said. “I think rugby definitely helped me there, just being a little more athletic and just being – you know, you don’t have pads in rugby, so you’ve got to be a little tougher, so I definitely give a lot of credit to rugby.”
Belichick certainly likes his offensive linemen to be tough, even mean. Mafi’s rugby mindset should serve him well in that department.
Kayshon Boutte Started Strong In College
Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (7) in action during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sixth-round wide receiver Kayshon Boutte could’ve gone higher in the draft if he continued his early college performance to the end. But a drop-off in production and a broken bone in his ankle, which needed surgery, along with a disappointing Combine made Boutte a day-3 pick.
“Personally, my college career was good, but it could have been better. That’s how I feel about it,” Boutte said.
Boutte didn’t want to make any excuses for his performance, and indicated that he needs to work harder to get where he wants to be. There’s potential that the Patriots bought low on a good player, but it’s on Boutte to prove that.
“I just have to focus on myself,” Boutte said. “It’s more about making sure that I am 100% putting in the work every day to get to where I want to be.”
Punter Bryce Baringer: Also A Weather Guy
Michigan State’s Bryce Baringer punts while warming up before the Spartans game against Minnesota during the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal/USA Today Network)
If the Patriots targeted Ryland in part because of his experience in bad weather, then the same can be said for Baringer, who was also Ryland’s holder at the Senior Bowl.
“Thankfully, just being from the Midwest and from Michigan, I’ve been able to have the chance to play in some snow games,” Baringer said in his introductory presser. “We did last year, or two years ago, excuse me against Penn State, some really windy game. So hopefully I’ll be able to bring that knowledge out to Foxborough.”
Receiver Demario Douglas Is Confident As A Returner
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 20: Demario Douglas #3 of the Liberty Flames carries the ball against the Toledo Rockets during the first half of the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl game at FAU Stadium on December 20, 2022 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Demario Douglas has experience returning both punts and kicks, as well as playing slot receiver. Marcus Jones has always been more of a punt returner than a kick returner, so perhaps Douglas has an in-road at that role as a rookie. He likely has a long way to go in any facet as a sixth-round pick, but Douglas sure sounded confident when asked about his playing style.
“If you would use one word, I’d say electric,” Douglas said. “I’d say I can do it all, play inside receiver, outside and then I also add value to special teams, punt return, kick return.”
Nothing worng with a little swagger at that position.
Ameer Speed Lives Up To His Name
Michigan State’s Ameer Speed goes after a ball that was blocked during a Rutgers field goal attempt during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in East Lansing. (Syndication: Lansing State Journal)
Ameer Speed may never develop the requisite skills to play a lot of defense, but he does have a lot of … speed. He ran an excellent 4.33 in the 40-yard dash at Michigan State’s Pro Day, and also did a 6.99 in the three-cone drill, which the Patriots historically like to see. So they may still have a good gunner on special teams, here, because of those traits.
“Receivers and DBs play a lot of gunner and jammers, especially on punt return,” Speed said. “But I’ve been a lot of positions on KOR and kickoff coverage. Anything that’s needed, I’m willing to learn and step in and be able to help.”
Isaiah Bolden Was The Only HBCU Player Drafted
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – DECEMBER 03: Isaiah Bolden #23 of the Jackson State Tigers breaks up a pass during the second half of the game against Tyler Kirkwood #80 of the Southern University Jaguars in the SWAC Championship at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Jackson State’s Isaiah Bolden had the unique distinction of being the only player drafted out of any Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). He got a shoutout from his former coach, Deion Sanders, who also expressed shame for the rest of the league outside of New England for not taking a chance on any other players from HBCUs. Bolden himself is proud to have made it, though.
“It means a lot to me,” Bolden said. “Just having that chip on my shoulder, carrying the weight of HBCUs. I’ve got something to prove. There’s a lot of talented guys that are out there. I just understand that chip on my shoulder is for all the HBCUs.”
