Patriots credited with getting "steal of the draft" in Christian Gonzalez
BOSTON -- Very rarely can a team trade down to a later pick in the first round and still get one of the best players on the entire board. But on Thursday night, the Patriots did just that.
Sitting at No. 14, New England traded down three spots with Pittsburgh. The Steelers took offensive tackle Broderick Jones, the last available top tackle in the draft, while the Patriots pocketed an extra fourth-round pick.
Three picks later, though, cornerback Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon was still available, so the Patriots made their pick.
Gonzalez was either the No. 1 or No.2-ranked cornerback in the whole draft, with Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon (fifth overall, Seahawks) getting all of that praise. So for the Patriots to land him at No. 17 after moving down was considered quite the coup for Bill Belichick, Matt Groh and the Patriots' front office.
NFL analytics expert Kevin Cole labeled the pick the "steal of the draft" as Gonzalez averaged ninth on mock drafts and seventh on big boards.
The Patriots secure the "steal" of the draft so far according to consensus mocks and big boards. Both had him as a top-10 prospect
— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) April 28, 2023
Last year, the Patriots had the biggest first-round reach in Cole Strange pic.twitter.com/S6wRvWSqPY
Daniel Jeremiah echoed that thought.
Gonzalez was my 10th overall prospect and the Patriots are able to get him at 17 -- great value.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 28, 2023
ESPN's Field Yates expressed shock that Gonzalez lasted as long as he did.
I have absolutely no idea how Christian Gonzalez may it all the way to pick 17 but that is an absolute steal for the Patriots. Wow.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 28, 2023
A To Z Sports' Doug Kyed reported that a Patriots source said that he had expected Gonzalez to be gone in the top 10.
One source on the #Patriots taking Christian Gonzalez: "Thought he'd go Top 10."
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) April 28, 2023
Dream pick for New England.
Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar graded the pick with an A+.
New England Patriots select Christian Gonzalez with the 17th pick. Grade: A+ https://t.co/O9tdZZ4uOv
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 28, 2023
"The Patriots may be ready to unleash a demon on the rest of the NFL, as nobody expected Gonzalez to last until the 17th overall pick, and he has everything required to exact revenge," he wrote.
The Patriots' moves in the draft are often unique, as evidenced by last year's selection of Cole Strange. And Thursday night's move out of No. 14 indicated that perhaps some more outside-the-box drafting was on the way.
Yet with Gonzalez available, the Patriots kept it simple. And by all accounts, they've added a great player.