Imagine a 2023 season where the New England Patriots didn’t plummet off a cliff. What if Bill Belichick put together one of the best draft classes in his 24 years with the team? Would he still be the head coach for the Patriots?
It’s something that’s fun to think about considering the multitude of options available to the legendary coach and de facto general manager in the 2023 NFL draft. The Patriots came away with 12 rookie picks in an effort to retool the roster.
They had just missed the playoffs the previous season, and Mac Jones went from being a Pro Bowl quarterback to being questioned as an NFL starter.
It was a disaster of epic proportions.
Unfortunately, Belichick’s solution was adding more defensive talent at the top of the draft board and throwing darts at offensive linemen and receivers late. There was no sense of urgency to fix the offense and surround Jones with the necessary talent to succeed.
Today, we will pretend Belichick got a do-over button and approached the draft with a more offensive-minded philosophy.
In this make-believe land, the Patriots wouldn’t have been an absolute dumpster fire and the greatest coach of all time would have kept his job. We’re keeping the draft day trades in place, but the pick choices are not all the same.
Here are the 2023 draft moves that would have kept Belichick in New England.
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) stretches before the start of minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Belichick knocked this one out of the park.
Christian Gonzalez looked like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in only four games as a rookie. He was so good that even Miami Dolphins All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill was singing his praises after going head-to-head with him early in the season.
“I was able to go against their rookie. He’s real good,” Hill said on an episode of the “It Needed To Be Said” podcast, via the Vocal Podcast Network. “Very lengthy corner, had some real good technique and speed about him. So they’ve got some real good pieces over there in New England, man. So shout out to New England.”
It’s not often a rookie receives that kind of praise from one of the best receivers in the NFL. Gonzalez has superstar-level talent and potential.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) celebrates the Packers’ victory over the Chicago Bears…
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