2023 NFL mock draft roundup: Updated Patriots initial-round projections

The 2023 NFL Draft is significantly less than a month away.

Teams are busy attending Pro Days, conducting a single-on-a single interviews with players and watching lots of film to prepare for the initial round on April 28 in Kansas City.

This draft is mightily significant for the New England Patriots. They enhanced their coaching employees more than the offseason by hiring new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, and they bolstered their roster in free of charge agency by signing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, tight finish Mike Gesicki and other individuals. 

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But the Patriots nevertheless lack higher-finish talent. They never have adequate elite playmakers on offense or defense. Owning the No. 14 choose general choose in the initial round is a wonderful chance for head coach Bill Belichick to add an effect player who can begin in Week 1. 

The 3 most glaring roster weaknesses for the Patriots to address in Round 1 are offensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback. The position they decide on to upgrade at No. 14 could just come down to very best player accessible. Primarily based on current mock drafts, we could see as several as 4 quarterbacks come off the board just before the Patriots are on the clock. That would be a wonderful situation for the Patriots since they’d have a possibility at a single of the leading ten non-quarterback prospects in this draft class. 

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Which players ought to the Patriots target at No. 14? Right here are the most current initial-round choose projections from current specialist mock drafts.

Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Bucky Brooks, NFL Network: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Chad Reuter, NFL Network: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

Bruce Feldman, The Athletic: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Jason McIntyre, FOX Sports: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Scouting Division, Bleacher Report: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

Jordan Reid, ESPN: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Walter Football: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern