With the Patriots solely taking part in for delight and to play spoiler towards the opposition, now could be the proper time to place as many rookies on the sphere as doable over the ultimate two weeks of the season.
The Patriots chosen 12 gamers within the 2023 NFL Draft, and 9 stay on the 53-man roster with Week 17 on the horizon.
Let’s test in on the place the Patriots’ 2023 draft picks stand with two video games left on the schedule.
Round 1, Pick 17: CB Christian Gonzalez
PFF Grade: 80.8
One of probably the most disappointing features of the Patriots’ 2023 season was that Gonzalez’s marketing campaign ended after simply 4 video games as a consequence of a shoulder damage. The former Oregon defender let up simply 16 catches on 24 targets for 157 yards with an interception and two move breakups, per PFF, as not simply probably the greatest rookie cornerbacks however probably the greatest cornerbacks within the league.
Round 2, Pick 46: DE Keion White
PFF Grade: 62.3
White is a freak athlete at 6-foot-5, 290 kilos with the flexibility to play on the sting and alongside the inside. The Georgia Tech product is sixth on the staff with 18 pressures and thirteenth with 437 defensive snaps, per PFF. He has but to place all of it collectively however could possibly be dominant when he does.
Round 3, Pick 76: S Marte Mapu
PFF Grade: 49.8
Mapu has performed sparingly this season behind practically 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 road of scrimmage, within the field, at free security, within the slot and even exterior. It does seem to be the most effective position for him sooner or later might be as a hybrid linebacker/robust security.
Mapu picked off Patrick Mahomes and compelled a fumble on a punt this season. He’s allowed 9 catches on 12 targets for 128 yards with one landing, one interception and one move breakup, per PFF.
Round 4, Pick 107: OL Jake Andrews
PFF Grade: N/A
Andrews has but to play on offense this season as beginning middle David Andrews’ backup. That might change this weekend, nonetheless, because the Patriots proceed to combine and match items to fill in for injured beginning left guard Cole Strange. The former Troy lineman is undersized, nevertheless it’s price seeing what sort of positional flexibility he has earlier than the season is thru.
Round 4, Pick 112: Okay Chad Ryland
PFF Grade: 40.0
It’s been a disappointing 12 months for Ryland, however the former Terp got here up huge for the staff Sunday night time with a 56-yard game-winning discipline purpose.
Overall this season, Ryland is 21-of-22 on further factors and simply 15-of-23 on discipline objectives. He’s 7-of-13 on discipline objectives of 40-plus yards.
Round 4, Pick 117: OL Sidy Sow
PFF Grade: 62.4
The Patriots used Sow virtually solely at proper deal with all through the summer season earlier than transferring him again to his major school place of guard through the season. PFF has him graded significantly better as a run blocker (68.4) than a move protector (46.2). The Eastern Michigan grad let up 4 sacks and 22 complete pressures on 400 pass-block snaps this season, per PFF.
Round 4, Pick 144: G Atonio Mafi
PFF Grade: 29.5
Mafi spent many of the summer season because the Patriots’ prime backup guard, however he’s struggled in video games.
He’s allowed 4 sacks and 26 complete pressures in simply 254 pass-block snaps this season. James Ferentz began at left guard in Week 16, however Mafi, who went to UCLA, took over for many of the recreation.
Round 6, Pick 187: WR Kayshon Boutte
PFF Grade: 47.4
The former LSU five-star recruit has been focused seven occasions however caught simply two passes for 19 yards.
Round 6, Pick 192: P Bryce Baringer
PFF Grade: 70.3
Baringer has been stable as a rookie and has positioned probably the most punts contained in the 20 (36) within the NFL this season. He’s seventeenth in punt common, twenty fourth in internet punt common, 18th in return fee and twenty sixth in hangtime.
Round 6, Pick 210: WR DeMario Douglas
PFF Grade: 76.1
One of the most important steals of the 2023 NFL Draft, Douglas ranks fourth amongst certified rookie huge receivers with a 77.3 receiving grade this season, having caught 44 passes on 66 targets for 517 yards in 12 video games.
His pace and agility flashes on practically each single contact.
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 positioned on injured reserve earlier than cuts with a concussion suffered in a preseason recreation towards the Packers.
Source: www.bostonherald.com