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Patriots Three Round 2023 Mock Draft Predictions

The 2023 NFL Draft is three weeks away. The Patriots have several holes to fill. With Bill Obrien returning, as Offensive Coordinator, we will predict who the Patriot’s brain trust will select. With the team thin at receivers and linemen head coach, Bill Belichick will certainly be wheeling and dealing his picks.

Round 1 Pick 14 Zay Flowers/WR Boston College

All signals point to the Patriots picking a wide receiver in round one. A perfect fir would be Boston College’s Zay Flowers. Out of all the receivers in this year’s draft, Flowers is the swiftest. An elite route runner, Flowers breaks for huge gains after the catch. He has unique open- field moves.

Flowers have all the tools to be a number- one receiver on any NFL team. The knock on Flowers is his height and weight 5″ 185 pounds. He is the ideal wideout and would change the complexion of the Patriot’s offense. He rarely drops passes, which is a huge plus in New England.

Round 2//CB/Safety/Jartavious Martin/Illinois

This pick can go either way. This is where the draft gets interesting. I have the organization selecting cornerback Jartavious Martin. Martin’s trait is his versatility. He can play either corner or safety. This a trait Bill Belichick relishes.

Martin stands at 6’195 lbs. He registered 51 tackles last season and had 3 interceptions. Martin is an exceptional l tackler. A feisty player, he will depth and intensity to the defensive backfield.

Round 3 Pick 116/ Tyler Steen/OT/ Alabama

Tyler Steen is a mammoth 6′ 6″ 320lb tackle. The advantage of drafting Steen has started since his freshman year. A powerful blocker with good footwork. He takes his blocks to the next level and moves down the field well. With Bill Obrien, the offensive coordinator Steen will settle right in.

Conclusion

This is Bill Belichick’s most important draft. With no playoff wins in four years, rumors are floating around of a possible firing Patriots fans are desperate for a return to post-season. Quarterback Mack Jones and Bill Belichick are at odds Belichick did not like the way Jones sought outside help. That’s why Belichick needs to hit a grand slam in this year’s draft.

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Patriots Have Many Holes To Fill In This Year’s Draft.

Now that Mac Jones is officially a Patriot let’s look at the big picture. The Patriots have many holes to fill. Defensively, they ranked 26th in 2020. They were one of the worst teams in the league in stopping the run. So where do they go from here? My guess is Bill Belichick will focus on the defensive line adding to the rotation. In this post, we will discuss three departments the team needs to restructure.

Middle Linebacker/Defensive Front

The good news is Donta Hightower is returning for the 2021 campaign. Other than that there is not much to get excited about. Edge rusher Josh Uche showed flashes of promise. Chase Winovich is gradually getting better. Number one pick Kyle Duggar has shown he can play. I personally feel they need to get more physical. Teams ran all over them last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. That statistic needs to improve.

New additions Henry Anderson, Davon Godchaulx, and Matthew Judon, and Kyle Van Noy will bolster the front seven. Stopping the run is priority number one in 2021.

Patrick Chung Retiring/McCourty Aging

In the off_ season safety, Patrick Chung retired. Chung was noted for his ability in stopping the run. Long time safety Devin McCourty a year older. Second_year safety Kyle Duggar is not ready to take over yet.

Replacing Julian Edelman

The biggest off season news was Julian Edelman announcing his retirement. Edelman is one of the greatest slot receivers in Patriots history. Known for his toughness,Edelman made one of the most clutch catches in Super Bowl history in the comeback win.

Two names to keep an eye on are Elijah Moore of Ole Miss and terrace Marshall Jr of LSu. Both receivers are excellent route runners with burning speed.

Conclusion

Poor execution was frustrating for Patriots fans. A 7-9 record is frustrating for Patriots fans But with the free _agent spending spree and new blood coming in,2021 will be an exciting year.

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Patriots Enter Free Agency With A Bang

Tuesday the Patriots, entered the NFL Free Agency with a bang. They added 8 pieces the most team history. Coming to terms were tight end Jonu Smith, defensive end Matthew Judon from Baltimore, wide receiver Nelson Agholor from the Raiders, Defensive end Henry Anderson of the Jets. Other signings were Davon Godchaux defensive tackle from the Jets, Jalen Mills Defensive back from Philadelphia. As of Wednesday, they locked up tight end Hunter Henry from the LA Chargers. In this post, we will review three reasons why these signings will improve the Patriots in 2021.

Tight End Position Addressed

For the first time in three seasons, the Patriots strengthened the tight end department. Si With the addition of Hunter Henry and Jonu Smith, quarterback Cam Newton has two huge targets to work with.

The 2020 draft class of Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi did not pan out. Outside of Asiasi and Keene, the club has Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse. In 16 games last tight end department accounted for only 7 catches. Both Henry and Smith are elite blockers, which is a significant upgrade.

How Much Are They Improved From 2020?

The next question is how much are they improved from 2020. Head coach Bill Belichick has completely reshaped the roster. Jonu Smith and Hunter Henry are a significant upgrade. Edge rusher Matthew Judon is an All_Pro pass _ rusher.

In, Hunter Henry, the team is getting a quality tight end. In five seasons as a Charger, he has caught 196 receptions for 21 touchdowns. He is also an excellent blocker. Jonu Smith on the other hand provides many skills. He is one of the best route runners in the league and possesses excellent blocking skills. In, four years at Tennessee, he totaled 114 receptions and 16 touchdowns.

By signing Hunter and Smith, it marks the first time since the successful duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Risky Moves Versus Quality Moves

Receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne are considered risky. In four years as an Eagle, Agholor had two decent seasons. In Kendrick Bourne, the team is getting another slot receiver. Overall, they should give the offense a huge boost.

As for the quality signings Hunter Henry, Jonu Smith, and Matthew Judon are all skilled players. Defensive back Jalen Mills brings stability and depth to the defensive backfield.

Conclusion

In all the signings fans have renowned hope in the Patriots again. Losing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski was a culture shock. It was nice to see the Patriots being aggressive.

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Weighing In On The Patriots Opting Out Issues

It has been a trying 2020 offseason for the Patriots. The team is dealing with a slew of opting _out issues. Coved 19 is jeopardizing the upcoming season. Leading the way on the opt _out lists are Dont’a Hightower, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Patrick Chung, and Danny Vitale. Hightower is the quarterback of the defense. If anymore opt_ out head coach Bill Belichick will have a problem on his hands. In this post, we will weigh in on the Patriots opt_out issues.

Weighing In On The Patriots Team Opting Out Issues                                                       

 Conspiracy Theorist Experts Taking Over  Events like opting_out promote conspiracy theories. Especially when they surround the Patriots. Bill Belichick is not the most popular person. With, Tom Brading signing with Tampa Bay this only sparks conspiracy The Patriots have been a victim of Spygate and Deflategate. Opting_out  from playing only makes it worse. With training camp underway, the next couple of weeks should be interesting. This makes suitable conversation for the local talk shows and podcasts.

Key Players Opting Out The Patriots defense will be seriously a Dante Hightower has been the leader for several years. Patrick Chung is a valuable cog in the defensive backfield. Without either, the Patriots will have to trade or sign an available free agent. Starting a rookie means growing pains and defeats.

The Team  Awarded Extra Cap Space  Before training camp, the club was awarded extra cap space.  The team came to terms on the Antonio Brown contract, and Aron Hernandez estate.

Instead of being under 1,000,000 dollars, the club has an additional  7.5 million dollars in cap space. Some names to keep an eye on are  James Harrison defensive tackle and edge rusher, Jedaveon Clowney.  Clowney would provide leadership left by Hightower. I personally like defensive tackle, James Harrison. Only 31 years old he’s a versatile run stopper.  He has recently played for the Jets and Lions.

Looking Ahead Depending on the pandemic the NFL season could be at stake. Players are opting_out  to protect their families. The Patriots have been one of the hardest _hit teams.  With the loss of Tom Brady and others, it could be a long season for Patriots fans.                                                                                                                                                                                               

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Why Jarrett Stidham Will Succeed As A Patriots Starter

As football fans wait out the pandemic, people are anxious to see quarterback Jarrett Stidham in action. Stidham has the arduous task of replacing the great Tom Brady. One thing is for certain, Jarrett Stidham will face many growing pains as a first_year quarterback. In this post, we will examine three reasons why Jarrett Stidham will survive as the Patriots starting quarterback.

 Why Jarrett Stidham Will Succeed As  A Patriots Starter

Came From A Great College Program  In 2019 the Patriots selected Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round out of Auburn. Stidham played two years under Auburn head coach, Gus Malzahn. While at Auburn, Stidham finished with 25 games under his belt. In that span of time, he threw 18 touchdown passes and threw for over 3,000 yards in  2017/18. Prior to Auburn, he played the 2015 season at Baylor. Both programs are highly regarded by NFL coaches.

Since joining the Patriots he has three NFL games to his credit. Much of his time was spent as Tom Brady’s understudy. He is also facing stiff competition from reserve Brian Hoyer. Many people expect Stidham to play the whole season as a starter.

Playing For One Of The Greatest Coaches In NFL History   Stidham has another advantage that most young quarterbacks don’t. Playing under Bill Belichick will only make him better. The best example is Tom Brady. Brady was a no _name  out of Michigan. Then in early 2000 starter, Drew Bledsoe got hurt and Brady never looked back.

Over the years, Belichick has been a shrewd judge of talent. He has drafted greats like Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Vince Wilfork, and Matt Light. Now it’s Stidham’s turn to see if he belongs with the greats.

 Much Improved Offensive Line  One issue Tom Brady had was protection. Last season, center Dave Andrews was injured with a lung infection. In the offseason, Andrews was cleared to play. With a healthy Isaiah Wynn, New England should have a  much improved offensive line in 2020.

In the 2020 draft, Belichick selected three offensive linemen. If Joe Thuney can get his contract extended  Stidham should have significant protection in 2020. Also, joining the mix, are two new tight ends. Joining the mix are Devin Asiasi of UCLA and Dalton Keene of Virginia Tech. Asiasi was the best blocking tight end in the draft.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Looking Ahead With Bill Belichick and his superior staff, Jarrett Stidham will succeed  within time.

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Three Reasons Why The Patriots Will Return To The Playoffs In 2020

With Hall Of Fame quarterback, Tom Brady departed, its time for the Patriot’s to reboot.The organization had a robust offseason.  joining Brady, were Kyle Van Noy, Elandon, Roberts, Ted Karras, Jamie Collins, and Duron Harmon. All played vital roles in the Patriot’s last two Super Bowl victories. In this post, we will examine three reasons the Patriots will make the

Three Reasons The Patriots Will Return To The Playoffs In 2020

Fresh New Faces  Head coach Bill Belichick is rebuilding, starting with Jarrett Stidham. Stidham is in his second season as a Patriot Stidham has shown great poise and accuracy in his short tenure. His offseason workouts are going well as Stidham practices with the receivers.

If Stidham does not impress in preseason Belichick may turn to reserve  Brian Hoyer. Hoyer is in his third stint as a Patriot. Whoever wins the job, Patriots fans will be in for culture, shock without Tom Brady.

Healthy Offensive Line During the offseason, the team received grateful news regarding center David Andrews. Andrews was injured all of 2019 due to lung infection. With a healthy Andrews, the line should see a significant improvement in 2020.

In the draft Belichick rebuilt his line by drafting guard Michel Onwenu, Michigan tackle Justin Herron Tackle Wake Forrest, and center Dustin Woodard of Memphis.

With two mid _round picks, Belichick replaced Rob Gronkowski with UCLA’S Devin Asiasi and Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene. Keene brings flexibility as both a fullback and tight end. As for Asiasi specializes in blocking skills. This is what Rob Gronkowski specialized in for years.

Flexible Defense The Patriots had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2019. With the departures of Kyle Van Noy,  Elandon Roberts, Jamie Collins, and Duron Harmon, the Patriots added more speed in the defense.

The Patriots have to do a better job in stopping the run. Heavy teams like Baltimore and Tennessee. Derrick Henry had a career day running for 183 yards in the wild card game in 2019.

New England added defensive tackle Beau Allen Linebacker Brandon Copeland and safety Adrian Phillips. All three can drop back in cover and stop the run. Number one pick Kyle Duggar of Lenoir Rhyne. Duggar’s strengths are kickoff returns and his superb tackling skills.  These skills are what Belichick relishes.

2020 Projection   Grooming Jarrett Stidham will take time. But one thing he has going in his favor is the great coaching of Bill Belichick. With a balanced running game in Sony Michel. Rex Burkhead and James White it should be an interesting campaign will take time for Stidham to get to know N’keal . Jacobi Meyers, Julian Edelman, and Mohamed Sanu. If the team can stay healthy my projection is 10-7.

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Why The Patriots Need To Focus On Defense in This Year’s Draft

With the upcoming NFL draft weeks away, the Patriots need to focus on defense in this year’s draft. In this post, we will focus on three areas the team needs to focus on defense in the upcoming draft.

 

Why The Patriots Need To Focus On Defense In This Year’s Draft                   

Mass  Exodus Of Defensive Players  So far this offseason, several key members have left. Leaving for fresher pastures were Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Danny Shelton, and Duron Harmon have moved on.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Succeeding them will not be easy. Overall, the Patriots were the number one ranked defense in the NFL last season. Head coach, Bill Belichick signed Beau Allen, and Adrian Phillips this past offseason. Allen will be an upgrade over Shelton. Adrian Phillips led the Chargers last year in tackles. He will be an upgrade over Duron Harmon.                                                                                       

 

Add Depth To The Front Seven   New England holds the 23rd pick in the first round. Depending on who is available a quality pick would be middle linebacker Zach Baun of Wisconsin. Baun is known for his versatility. He is both an excellent pass rusher and can drop back and cover.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       A J Espensea of Iowa would be a perfect Patriot fit. His mammoth size 6’5″ tall and 280 lbs. is what the Patriots look for. In three years at Iowa, Espenesa finished with 61 solo tackles and 40 assisted tackles plus one touchdown. Belichick has close ties with the head coach. KirkFerentz.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A sleeper in the draft is Oklahomas linebacker Ken Murray. Murray 6’5” tall and 250 lbs is regarded as a third_ down linebacker. In three years at Oklahoma Murray finished with 325 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He also set a school record for making 28 tackles in one game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Need To Get Younger Devin McCourty, Stephon Gilmore, and Donta Hightower are all over thirty. Hightower is at the end of a four _year deal. A deal that pays 35,000,000 dollars. Stephon Gilmore signed the most lucrative deal in Patriot history.  Devin McCourty agreed to a two-year extension this offseason.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             All three are valuable assets to the Patriot’s success. Last season the team had the number one defense in the NFL. If the team hopes to be in the playoff  conversation the defense will be a huge factor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Upcoming Season     With the dramatic departure of Tom Brady, Patriots fans are bracing for the best. The Patriots have one of the oldest rosters in football. Relying on Jarrett Stidham to take over will take time. If the Patriots hope to win another Super Bowl it will be done with defense and exceptional coaching.

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Three NFL Free Agents That Would Help The Patriots Return Too The Super Bowl

With NFL free agency a week away, the New England Patriots need to decide who will lead them. With Tom Brady, a free agent for the first time, decisions  need to be made. At 43 Brady passed for 4,000 yards and threw 24 touchdowns. His overall rating was 85%.In this post, we will review three free agents that would help the Patriots win their 7th Super Bowl under Bill Belichick.

Three NFL Free Agents That Would Help The Patriots  Return Too The Super Bowl                      
 
 
 
 Tom Brady For 43 years old  Tom Brady’s numbers are still pretty good. Considering he had limited receivers 24 touchdowns is not too shabby, If he and the Patriots cannot concur on a deal he would still be a bang for your buck.

With rumors flying, look for Brady and owner Robert Kraft to strike a deal at midnight on March 16th. If he does return, he needs people to throw the ball to. Receiver Julian Edelman was banged up. Rookies Nkeal harry and Jacobi Meyers were work in progress. Mohamed Sanu, acquired at the trade deadline, struggled to learn the system. With offseason help, Brady could stir New England back to the Super Bowl.
Derrick Henry The interesting aspect of Derrick Henry is his 1,187,000 dollar cap hit. Henry would be a steal for the right situation. He literally ran all over the Patriots in their wild _card win over the Patriots.
With Henry’s size, he would take tremendous pressure off of Brady. Drafted in 2016 by Tennessee,  his career numbers are 3833 yards, rushing and  38 touchdowns.
Logan Ryan  With safety Devin McCourty a free Logan Ryan would be a perfect fit. Drafted by Bill Belichick in2013 Ryan is familiar with the Patriots system.  Career _wise Ryan has 78 pass deflections,11 sacks, and 17 interceptions. With a 9.500,000 dollar cap hit Ryan would be a deal.                                                                                                                                                                   
 
 The Offseason The 2020 offseason could be the most important in Patriot history Whether or not to sign the greatest football player in NFL history. If a deal cannot get done with Brady, either a free agent or Jarrett Stidham is an option.
  Whoever the quarterback is he needs to be surrounded by quality receivers. Look for the Patriots to spend a lot of money in free agency. The team finished a respectable 12-4 last season, with sensible signings Super Bowl seven may be in reach.
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Why The Patriots Still Have Enough Offense To Win The Super Bowl In 2019

The Patriots suffered their second loss of the season to Houston 28-22. Overall, the Patriots rank 5th in the NFL offensively Defensively, fans saw cracks in a unit that was virtually unstoppable the first eight weeks of the season. In this post, we will discuss three areas why the Patriots offense is still good enough to win the 2019 Super Bowl.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Why The Patriots Offense Is Still  Have Enough Offense To Win The Super Bowl

Healthy Running Game  Despite the inconsistent play of the offensive line,the running game is healthy. RexBurkhead, James White, and Sony Michel are the crux of the Patriots offensMichel thus far has totaled 600 yards and has been their most consistent performer. When healthy, Rex Burkhead gives the Patriots a solid one _two punch.  The third back James White is one of Brady’s most trusted receivers in recent memory.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Enough Receivers  Even with Rob Gronkowski not coming back, the club still has adequate receivers. Phillip Dorsett, Mohamed Sanu, Julian Edelman and    Jakobi Meyers. Considering typical rookie mistakes, Meyers has shown signs of improvement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 After twelve games, Meyers has 22 receptions for 299 yards and zero touchdowns. Aside from Meyers, Julian Edelman continues to be Mr. Clutch.  Newcomer Mohamed Sanu seems to be learning the offense as the season progresses. Veteran Phillip Dorsett has recovered from a concussion. Also, the organization resigned receiver DemaryiusThomas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A Healthy Isaiah Wynn  Number one draft pick Isaiah Wynn continues to improve since returning from an early_ season injury.  Wynn provides solid protection along with Joe Thuney for Tom Brady.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Overall, the line provided significant protection for Tom Brady Sunday. After the game,the team announced that center Ted Karras suffered an ankle sprain.                                                                                                                                                           The Season Ahead With four games left, the Patriots are in a dogfight with Baltimore for home _field advantage. One more loss and the club will have to play on the road. For the first time in the Belichick era, the team has to be concerned about the 9-3 Buffalo Bills.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  New England struggled in an early _season win against the Bills. The two teams meet in December.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            After Sunday’s loss, the team released kicker Kei Forbath and activated injured Nick Folk. Folk suffered from an appendectomy two weeks ago. Also, the club claimed defensive tackle, Albert Huggins from the Eagles                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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Why The 2019 Patriots Defense Ranks As Belichick’s Best

After two games of the 2019 NFL season, the Patriots defense has only allowed three points. Yesterday against the Dolphins, the team shut out the fish in Miami. Overall, the defense had seven sacks,four interceptions and two_  picks for six. In this post , we will examine three areas why this year’s Patriots defense ranks as Belichick’s best.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Why the 2019 Patriots                                                                                                                   Depth 

Reason number one is depth. This year’s squad is well stocked at each position. Second_ year players Juwan Bentley and Christian Sam provide speed and energy. Rookies Jo Juan Williams and Chase Winovich have provided significant contributors in the first two games.                               

                                                                                                                                                                             In the season opener against the Steelers, Winovich played the entire game. Since the Patriots  13-3 Super Bowl win the defense has not surrendered a touchdown.

   Energy  This year’s defense has a good mixture of youth and experience. Veterans Devin McCourty, Stephon Gilmore, Kyle Van Noy are good role models for the rookies to look up to. Second_ year linebacker, Jonathan Simon was signed late last season. Simon was an integral figure in the club’s postseason run Cornerbacks Jonathan Jones and JC Jackson have superb in coverage. Both players were undrafted. Jones recently signed a three _year contract

Leadership  Every successful organization needs leadership.  This seasons  Patriots team has plenty of it. Adam Butler, Jamie Collins, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung, and the McCourty brothers are the leagues best.                                                                                                                                                                                                            If this group can stay healthy, it should rank as Belichicks best. The Patriots stick to the motto Do Your Job and so far that’s just what this defense practices.  Considering the fact, that last year’s coordinator Brian Flores left      for Miami the Patriots have the best defense in the NFL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           The Season Ahead  The old adage defense wins championships certainly applies to the Patriots. As the team gears up for Super win number seven, the defense depth is the number ingredient to reach the Super Bowl. Barring injuries the 2019 Defense ranks as Belichick’s best.