(Adam Richins for BSJ)
FINAL: NFL Draft, Day 3 - Patriots get 3 interior OL, K, P, 2 WRS, 2 CBs
What you need to know
WHEN: 12 p.m. (ET) (11 a.m. CT) Saturday, April 29, 2023 (Rounds (4-7)
DRAFTING: The 2023 NFL Draft will consist of seven rounds with a total of 259 selections. In addition, a total of 37 compensatory choices were awarded.
ON THE CLOCK
Rounds 3-6: 5 minutes per selection
Round 7: 4 minutes per selection
PATRIOTS PICKS AND TRADE VALUE
DAY TWO COVERAGE
Bedard: No, Belichick doesn't hate Mac Jones - this defensive draft just feels that way
Bedard: What you need to know about Patriots Day 2 selections Keion White and Marte Mapu
Video: Bill Belichick on 2023 draft, and if Mac Jones is his QB - 'Yeah, I mean Mac's been our quarterback for two years'
Podcast: Bedard talks first round of the draft, Patriots pick of Christian Gonzalez with The SportsHub
.@FDsportsbook Podcast: Bedard Patriots Pod - Picking Christian Gonzalez, why he 'fell' and what's next
PRE-DRAFT PREP
Kevin's draft series
BEDARD'S KEY PLAYERS REMAINING
TACKLES
Dawand Jones, Ohio State (6-8, 374, 5.36, 2nd): He's a lot like Trent Brown, down to the fact that he's an enigma. At times he's sensational, other times he looks like a late-round pick. A lot of questions about his work ethic. Sounds familiar.
Carter Warren, Pittsburgh (6-5½, 314, no 40, 2nd): Nothing flashy about him, but he gets the job done and is rock-solid. Started at LT for four years. Good film.
Projects: Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland; Blake Freeland, BYU.
TIGHT ENDS
Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (6-6½, 249, 4.70, 2-3): Straight-line athlete, good after the catch. Move TE.
RECEIVERS
*Tyler Scott, Cincinnati (5-10, 177, 4.42, 2-3): His film is jaw-dropping, sort of how I felt watching CB Tariq Woolen last year. Plays WAY faster than his timed speed. Explosive, sudden from the slot. What's wrong with him?
KEVIN FIELD'S DAY 3 THOUGHTS
I really liked what the Patriots did yesterday. DE Keion White (Georgia Tech) is a middle of the fairway pick in the second-round. The NFL invited him to the Kansas City for the draft because there were enough teams that had him as a Round 1 player. I see Edge as a bigger need than most, but even if you disagree, it’s a future pick. When they’ve been at their best, that’s how they draft. White could be starting for them in 2024.
Here were our write-ups on White
We first covered him Week 1 of the college football season (that’s why you read all year). Here is what I wrote prior to the Clemson game:
DE #6 Keion White, Georgia Tech (6-5, 286): He was very good at Old Dominion and then transferred to GT. Unfortunately, he broke his leg in offseason workouts last year and missed most of the season. He's moved up in weight this off-season which is intriguing because he’s expected to physically test really well. The questions will be his level of play against better competition (such as Clemson) and his potential role at the next level (athletic 3-technique inside or a versatile, strongside DE).
Week 1 Recap (break down how they did after the previous week's preview).
GEORGIA TECH: DE Keion White had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and forced a grounding penalty. Strong first game back from injury. Showed good power and decent bend for a guy his size (6-5, 286). Scouts are going to like his size and flexibility to play multiple techniques along the line. Coaches say he’s all about football and he contributes on ST. Similar type of prospect to Deatrich Wise Jr.
We also selected him as part of the Patriots All-Senior Bowl team.
I thought DE Keion White (Georgia Tech) was good. He wasn’t game-wrecking but there is a lot of clay to mold. He’s got great size, consistently plays hard, and was clocked running over 17 mph. That gets scouts excited.
In our Edge preview we had him selected by the Patriots in the second-round. Here’s what we wrote.
DE Keion White, Georgia Tech (6-5, 285): He really hustles and plays hard. He was very good in 2019 at Old Dominion (started career as a TE), transferred and then was hurt last year. He added weight this past season and had a solid year. While he has athleticism, he's not a premier pass rusher but he has more than enough play strength to hold the point. His best asset is his versatility and could be a power end in any scheme. The word out of the GT program is that he takes a professional approach and he's ready for the next level. He's 24 years old, so he's not young, but his best football should be in front of him and there's a lot to work with. He will be on the Patriots' radar.
I don't love him (White) in the first round, he didn't consistently dominate like I think a top pick should, but there's a lot to like. What I do love is that he plays as hard as anyone in the draft and the scheme versatility is appealing.
Marte Mapu (Sacramento St) was one of my favorite players in the middle rounds and I’ve been beating his drum on BSJ since the Senior Bowl. I think he’s a LB with some weight and just a really instinctive, athletic player. Trust me, they just got better even if it takes him some time.
Here were our write-ups on Mapu
I first wrote about Mapu at the Senior Bowl. Here’s what I said during the week and then Patriots All-Senior Bowl write-up.
LB/Big Nickel Marte Mapu (Sacramento St): Don’t get upset if Bill drafts one of these two players even though they are from a small school. Mapu played safety in college but he’s an athletic box player on Sunday’s. He was a missile in the run game on Wednesday.
In our Safety preview we had him selected by the Patriots in the fourth-round. As the draft got closer his stock was rising. We also said he’d be a target yesterday.
He’s one of my favorite sleepers of this class and I was really impressed with him at the Senior Bowl. I think he would be a household name if he was able to test (tore his pectoral in February). This feels like cheating since I think his best position is to add weight and play in the box as a LB. He was a safety in college and was really effective (FCS All-American and Conference DPOY). Mapu is missile in the run game, he’s a long athlete with quick play recognition, and he could be a match-up asset for the Patriots.
KEVIN FIELD'S PLAYERS TO WATCH
There was a big run on TEs yesterday which was painful. Most of the guys we had mocked to them are off the board. I also thought SF made two picks at the end of the night (Round 3) which were Patriots targets. K Jake Moody (Michigan) and TE Cam Latu (Alabama). They have 4 picks in Round 4, and I bet they thought both would be available. Niners are good drafting team.
TACKLE
Dawand Jones, Ohio St (6-8, 374): He was my top guy in the preseason (ahead of teammate and #6 pick Paris Johnson Jr.) but the off-field questions had me drop him to fourth in the position. Teams go really deep in the background (as they should). In our write-up on him I finished it with “The good news is that the Patriots will get answers to those questions. If they pick him, it’s because they are comfortable.” So far, they haven’t been.
Blake Freeland, BYU (6-8, 302): I like his potential to be a starting LT, but he’s going to have some growing pains and needs an NFL nutrition plan, strength program and good coaching to tighten his technique.
Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland (6-6, 306): Not a clean prospect, struggles when rushers get into his chest, doesn’t have the longest arms, and of course the consistency. But the potential is there to be a legit pass-blocking left tackle if he puts it together. Intriguing (top of the draft) type of skillset.
Few other players to watch. Asim Richards (UNC), Warren McClendon (Georgia), Ryan Hayes (Michigan), Killian Zierer (Auburn).
TIGHT ENDS
Payne Durham, Purdue (6-4, 253, 4.87): Solid number two TE at the next level.
Travis Vokolek, Nebraska (6-6, 259): Good depth TE.
H-Backs: Jack Coletto (Oregon St) and Hunter Luepke (North Dakota St)
True FB: Masen Wake (BYU) and Monte Pottebaum (Iowa).
RUNNING BACKS
Eric Gray, Oklahoma (5-9, 207): Top Patriots target at this point. Fits exactly what they look for in a third down back.
DeWayne McBride UAB (5-10, 209): Between the tackles, early down runner who has excellent contact balance.
Deuce Vaughn, Kansas St (5-5, 179): If you were willing to have J.J. Taylor than Vaughn could work. Darren Sproles 2.0.
Kenny McIntosh, Georgia (6-0, 204): Good third down back for the Bulldogs who didn’t test well after adding too much weight.
Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota (5-8, 203): Round 7 guy who that could make a roster because of his effectiveness.
Israel Abanikanda, Pitt (5-10, 216): Boom or bust type player. Almost like a Tevin Coleman.
RECEIVERS
Kayshon Boutte, LSU (5-11, 195): Roll of the dice with high ceiling and a low floor.
Charlie Jones, Purdue (5-11, 175): He's not going to beat elite CBs in man coverage, but he could be a solid WR3 or even WR2 over time. Slot player.
Rakim Jarrett, Maryland (6-0, 192): He’s an unrefined gem athletically.
Parker Washington, Penn St (5-10, 204): He was injured throughout the process but good slot player. Farther he drops better the value.
Demario Douglas, Liberty (5-8, 179): I had him as a PFA but he could slip into the draft late. Weapon with the ball in his hands and difficult to tackle.
LINEBACKERS
Nick Herbig, Wisconsin (6-2, 240): He’ll require a position change but he’s a football player. Flashed every time I watched the Badgers.
Isaiah Moore, NCST (6-2, 233): Early-down LB with enough size and great traits. Late Day 3.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Colby Wooden, Auburn (6-4, 273): May be duplicative with White now drafted but he’s one of my binkies.
Cameron Young, Miss St (6-3, 304): Plays with strength and has really long arms attached to powerful hands. DT/NT for early down work.
K.J. Henry, Clemson (6-4, 251): He could help right away as a rotational piece and competition to Anfernee Jennings and Ronnie Perkins.
Caleb Murphy, Ferris St (6-3, 254): He won the Ted Hendricks Award given to College Football's best DE. They coached him at the Shrine Bowl
Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina (6-4, 334): Dorchester native who is a nose tackle.
SAFETY
Daniel Scott, California (6-1, 208): He can play FS and be versatile enough to support 4 downs.
Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa St (6-0, 205): He has 40+ starts at corner which help his coverage skills on TEs. Just moved to safety and team captain.
Christopher Smith II, Georgia (5-10, 192): Late pick if the draft falls this way. Over 30 starts for the Bulldogs and nicknamed the “Soldier” by teammates.
Jammie Robinson, Florida St (5-11, 191): I don't see him as much of a fit post-Mapu but he was good at the Senior Bowl
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
OC Jake Andrews, Troy (6-3, 305): Could be a long-term replacement for David Andrews.
OG Emil Ekiyor, Alabama (6-2, 314): He’s not the biggest guy and quickness may give him challenges. I think he’s a good depth piece that could develop into a starter.
OG Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan (6-5, 323): He has 55 career starts and moves very well as a big man. He has the frame for the NFL level, but he'll need development at the next level.
OC Alex Forsyth, Oregon (6-4, 303): 3-year starter who often produced clean sheets. He played for Adrian Klemm at Oregon.