6 Rings 2023 NFL Draft Special
The minds behind the New England Patriots’ 2023 draft, from Matt Groh to Bill Belichick, Bill O’Brien to Eliot Wolf, Steve Belichck and more, are likely hard at work finishing up their exhaustive preparations for Thursday through Saturday in Kansas City. However, the Patriots’ unofficial general manager is still very much hard at work. And he’s let it be known who he’d like the team to select come Round 1.
Appearing on an NFL Network draft special, Patriots linebacker and “unofficial GM” Matthew Judon did not mince words when asked who he wanted the Patriots to select Thursday night in the first round. Not even just saying which position he hoped the team addressed first, which likely would be the tact the team would hope he takes. Nope, he came right out and named him: Quentin Johnston, wide receiver from TCU.
“You can’t have enough offense” were the first words Judon offers, following NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah’s selection of Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright, a safer pick many have mocked to the Pats.
“I think he’s a long, rangy guy, and he has exceptional hands,” said the Patriots’ sack leader the past two years of Johnston, a top receiver with great collegiate production and pro level measurables who would be a good fit in many pro offenses.
Then, Judon came right out and let everyone know how he and probably many teammates feel about the offense’s production and talent level: “He can catch anything, and he can stretch the field.”
That should be all you need to know about what the players on the team think of their current offensive talent; they want players like Johnston, who Judon said “can make our offense boom even more”. Following a lackluster 2022 offensive season, the Pats need to get more dynamic and more explosive on offense, and Judon wasn’t afraid to say it.
“He was good every year he was at TCU, and all he did was make big time plays in big time games,” Judon said.
Honest analysis that’s hard to argue with.
Judon has earned the title of unofficial GM over the past two offseasons by attempting to recruit virtually every prominent free agent or player requesting a trade via social media, often tweeting directly at them. He’s also been vocal in his defense of the organization, as evidenced in a recent twitter feud with Asante Samuel. Though his efforts to date have been virtually fruitless, that doesn’t mean his voice carries no weight. Judon is loved by coaches, teammates and fans alike, and his opinion probably carries a good amount of weight at Gillette Stadium.
But will it carry enough to influence the Pats draft braintrust to take a flier on a receiver that some believe is the most talented receiver available in a weak receiver class, but who also wasn’t invited to Round 1 for fear of an awkward TV moment should Johnston not be selected? Will Judon finally land his first big fish in his made-up front office role? Tune in Thursday night, starting at 8 p.m., to find out! You know the GM with the red sleeves will be watching.
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