It’s been a while since all was seemingly right for the Patriots. Since the now 71-year-old Bill Belichick was an unquestioned, universally accepted genius once again for even a few fleeting moments.
But after what went down in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, New England’s pick of Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez at No. 17 overall has Patriot Nation feeling a collective Awwwwwww Yeahhhhhhhh! even without Matthew Slater’s post-victory cue.
Sure it’s easy to argue that in a league, conference and division where seemingly every foe has an elite passer and a stable of pass-catching stars the Patriots absolutely needed to add a high-end player to the cornerback depth chart. Beyond that, New England seemingly also simply needed to add a tent-pole type guy at a big-money, big-impact position.
But it’s really much more than that.
After a couple years of Belichick missteps in both words and actions – Matt Patricia running the offense into the Mac Jones-breaking ground and “Last 25 years” logic, just to name a couple – the record-chasing supposed coaching GOAT needed some feel good, post-Tom Brady positive momentum for himself and the team that Robert Kraft still lets him run.
The Gonzalez pick is what that represents.
Arguably the No. 1 cornerback in the draft? A guy that many fans and media alike would have been fine trading up to pick in the first round? A guy with the length, athleticism and size to draw not-ridiculous comparisons to former Patriots Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Stephon Gilmore?
Getting that guy – Gonzalez might just be the next NFL cornerback HIM in league that saw Sauce Gardner take Defensive Rookie of the Year Honors at the position last fall in New York – at No. 17 after trading down?
Picking up another fourth-round pick that Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh hinted could be “a little bit of currency” for a possible trade up early on draft Day 2?
Oh, and in trading down from No. 14 to No. 17 with the Steelers New England may have prevented the division rival Jets, now led by Aaron Rodgers, from getting the stud tackle prospect Gang Green openly coveted?
Well, there’s a good day at the NFL Draft and then there is the borderline perfect night that Belichick, Groh and anyone inside or outside of Gillette Stadium wearing a Flying Elvis logo had.
Chef’s kiss!!!!
No, Gonzalez’s arrival won’t single-handedly jump the Patriots back into the contender class in the conference. It probably doesn’t even bump New England up from the projected basement spot in the locked-and-loaded AFC East.
But in getting the guy that Belichick, Groh and the rest of the Patriots front office had come to a “consensus” on in seemingly lockstep with the bulk of media and fans New England filled a massive need both on the field and in terms of morale.
Find someone who doesn’t like the Gonzalez pick or how Belichick frustratingly but oh so fruitfully traded down to acquire him and you’ll be looking at a person who is probably perpetually miserable.
But for at least one morning after, there is no vacancy in Foxborough for the miserable!
With 11 picks left to make, endless options on the day 2 and 3 draft boards and plenty of work to be done, it feels very much like Belichick and the Patriots already won the 2023 NFL Draft!
It’s only April. No games will be played until September. But for a team with a losing record over the last three years, that’s a win that was very much needed in New England.