The Oregon Ducks take on then UCLA Bruins at 7:30 pm in Eugene, Oregon on Nov 19, 2022. (Jackson Fisk / Eric Evans Photography)

The New England Patriots have their deepest draft class in over a decade coming in 2023. Many of them should play pivotal roles early on. But some rookies will be more important than others, due to the needs they could fill on the team right away.

Here’s how we rank the Patriots’ rookies in terms of their importance to the team for 2023…

12. DB Isaiah Bolden

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)
Bolden is a great story as the only player drafted out of an HBCU at Jackson State. But as a seventh-round pick on a crowded special teams and secondary depth chart, he has an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster, let alone make a big impact.

Ideal Role: Practice Squad DB
11. OL Atonio Mafi

UCLA Athletics – 2022 UCLA Bruins Football versus the Bowling Green State University Falcons at The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA. on Sept. 3, 2022. (Copyright Don Liebig/ASUCLA)

The Patriots are well-stocked at guard for 2023, with Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu as the projected starters. To back them up, Mafi will compete with James Ferentz, Chasen Hines, Bill Murray, and fellow rookie Sidy Sow. If Mafi is strictly a guard, he feels like a long shot to see much time on the main, active roster as a rookie.

Ideal Role: Backup Guard
10. LB/S Marte Mapu

Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu (Sacramento State Athletics)
Arguably the Patriots’ most head-scratching pick at 76th overall, Mapu’s strengths – and even his position – at the NFL level seem like they’re yet to be determined and developed. But perhaps he can cover tight ends in the passing game, an area where the Patriots’ secondary has been inconsistent at best.

Ideal Role: Backup Safety/Special Teamer
9. DB Ameer Speed

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)

Speed has a better chance to make an immediate impact than Bolden, and even Mapu, because of his experience and dedication to special teams. He also lives up to his name with his wheels. Speed will have an opportunity to step right in as a gunner and key special teams coverage guy.

Ideal Role: Core Special Teamer
8. WR Kayshon Boutte

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 03: Kayshon Boutte #7 of the LSU Tigers against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Boutte likely has a long way to go in terms of earning snaps on offense, unless the sixth-round pick is the Pats’ best rookie receiver ever out of nowhere. He has potential as an inside/outside hybrid receiver for the “Z” spot, but you can expect to see plenty of Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton in that role. If Boutte ever makes an impact in New England, it seems more likely to happen in year two or later.

Ideal Role: Backup Wide Receiver
7. P Bryce Baringer

Michigan State’s Bryce Baringer punts the ball against Rutgers (Michigan State Athletics)

As the first punter selected in the 2023 draft, Baringer should be expected to take over full-time punting duties for the Patriots – eventually. The reason he might have time to develop is the Patriots signed a capable punter in 27-year-old Corliss Waitman, who played all 17 games for the Broncos last season. This should be a legit competition at camp, but if Baringer is the guy right away, that’s a good thing.

Ideal Role: No. 1 Punter
6. C Jake Andrews

Troy FB at App State
The new center named Andrews was an interesting pick. Incumbent David Andrews is entrenched as the starter for now, under contract through 2024. But the 30-year-old has also missed 23 games over the past four seasons due to various health concerns, including blood clots that knocked him out for the entire 2019 season.

So if David has to miss time, it would be great if Jake can make the transition seamless and provide hope for the next era at center.

Ideal Role: No. 1A Center
5. DE Keion White

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

White is an exciting pick for the Patriots because he seems like the type of player that Bill Belichick will know how to develop and put in a position to succeed. He’s still relatively raw as a defensive lineman, so White’s impact as a rookie could be limited as he works on his technique.

But there may be a path for him to contribute early on as an edge-setting defensive end on early downs, while mixing in as an interior pass-rusher. White is big, athletic and versatile, so if he reaches his full potential under Belichick, watch out.

Ideal Role: Run-Stopping DE/Rotational Pass-Rusher
4. WR Demario Douglas

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)
Although Douglas was drafted later in the sixth round than Boutte, we give him a better chance of making an impact as a rookie because of his experience as a kick returner. Marcus Jones has punt returning locked down, but it would be nice if Douglas could take kick returns off his plate.

Douglas could also have a chance to see time on offense, as one of the few pure slot receivers on the team. But it’s much more likely that if we see him as a rookie, it’ll be in the return game.

Ideal Role: Kick Returner/Backup Slot Receiver
3. K Chad Ryland

Oct 22, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins place kicker Chad Ryland (38) makes a field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

It’s hard to understate what Nick Folk meant to the Patriots’ kicking game, but it appears his days in New England are finally numbered. The 38-year-old was only 4-for-7 on extra points over his final three games in 2022 and the Patriots just traded up in the fourth round of the draft to select Ryland.

Folk may stay healthy and play well enough to fend off Ryland at first, but this should be the rookie’s job sooner rather than later.

Ideal Role: No. 1 Kicker
2. OL Sidy Sow

Eastern Michigan OG Sidy Sow lines up for a play. (Eastern Michigan Athletics)
Sow gets a perhaps surprisingly high ranking on this list, as the Patriots’ sixth player selected and second offensive lineman. But he gets a bump over almost every other pick because he has experience playing tackle, arguably the position group with the most question marks.

Maybe he would need some time to transition from guard back to tackle, but Sow could very well be viewed and utilized on the edge. The Patriots have bodies at the tackle spots, but little in the way of stability, security, or certainty. So, Sow could have an opportunity to make an Onwenu-like early surprise impact as a rookie.

Ideal Role: Backup/Swing Tackle
1. CB Christian Gonzalez

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 27: (L-R) Christian Gonzalez poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 17th overall by the New England Patriots during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

An anticlimactic end to the rankings, but we couldn’t dig deep enough for a reason to rank any other rookie over Gonzalez. Widely considered a top-10-caliber prospect, Gonzalez slipped all the way to the Patriots at 17th overall. His selection fills an immediate need for a bigger outside cornerback, with the upside to hang with dynamic No. 1 receivers.

If all goes well, Gonzalez could be starting right out of the gate. Ideally, he quickly emerges as the kind of major presence on the outside that the Patriots have missed since the departure of Stephon Gilmore.

Ideal Role: No. 1 Outside Cornerback
Click here for complete New England Patriots coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.