Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft: Patriots Select a Corner at No. 14

The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:

• Every pick in the Mock Draft gets its own post. We will do one or two picks per day.
• We will link back to previous posts with a running draft recap.
• This feature will not include trades and will cover the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Patriots are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …

The Pick Is In

CB Christian Gonzalez — Oregon

The Fit

The New England Patriots could go offensive tackle here. They could even go wide receiver. But I think Bill Belichick and the Patriots could use some talent and depth at the cornerback position.

New England potentially gets the best cornerback in the draft (although I give Devon Witherspoon the slight advantage) in Christian Gonzalez at No. 14.

Scouting Report

I gave Devon Witherspoon a slight advantage over Christian Gonzalez as the No. 1 cornerback in this draft. Still, Gonzalez is No. 2, by far, if not 1a. Gonzalez was First Team All-Pac 12 and led the Ducks in interceptions (4) and passes defended (7) in 2022.

His 4.38 40-yard dash (89th percentile), 41’5″ vertical jump (98th percentile), and 11’1″ broad jump (95th percentile) make Gonzalez one of the most explosive and athletic cornerbacks in the draft. Gonzalez is tall with long arms, can run in man coverage, and accelerates well to match vertical routes.

Gonzalez is sticky in coverage and has off-the-charts athleticism, but he plays very aggressively and may need to tone that downb at the next level.

Christian Gonzalez ran a 4.38 40 and his speed pops on tape all day. Rare explosiveness.

Here he gets turned inside on the double up (really nice release by the WR), but you can see how quickly he makes up ground with that explosive long speed.

Hard to get behind him! pic.twitter.com/5cT1EqW432

— Cole Jackson (@ColeJacksonFB) April 6, 2023

Final Thoughts: Gonzalez has the potential to be a true lockdown CB1 in the NFL. Bill Belichick and the Patriots have some questions at quarterback, but adding to his defense is something I can see here for New England. Gonzalez at No. 14 is a tremendous value for the Patriots.

Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
2. Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
4. Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
7. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
8. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
9. Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
11. Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
12. Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
13. New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
14. New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
15. Green Bay Packers
16. Washington Commanders
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
18. Detroit Lions
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Seattle Seahawks
21. Los Angeles Chargers
22. Baltimore Ravens
23. Minnesota Vikings
24. Jacksonville Jaguars
25. New York Giants
26. Dallas Cowboys
27. Buffalo Bills
28. Cincinnati Bengals
29. New Orleans Saints (via SF)
30. Philadelphia Eagles
31. Kansas City Chiefs