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.
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
- Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- Houston Texans — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
- Arizona Cardinals — EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
- Indianapolis Colts — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — DT Jalen Carter, Georgia
- Detroit Lions (via LAR) — EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
- Las Vegas Raiders — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
- Atlanta Falcons — EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
- Chicago Bears (via CAR) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
- Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) — DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
- Tennessee Titans — T Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
- Houston Texans (via CLE) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
- New York Jets — T Broderick Jones, Georgia
- New England Patriots — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
- Green Bay Packers
- Washington Commanders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Detroit Lions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Minnesota Vikings
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Giants
- Dallas Cowboys
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- New Orleans Saints (via SF)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs