The Patriots Drop Down and Still Get One of the Top Cornerbacks in the Draft in Christian Gonzalez

Tom Hauck. Getty Images.

In a reality where we've become accustomed to Bill Belichick going way, way off the path of conventional wisdom with his early draft picks, I think everyone in New England was bracing themselves for something bananas when he traded out of the 14th pick. Broderick Jones of Georgia, the offensive tackle I thought he wanted was still on the board. But by dropping down to 17 (and adding the 120th pick) he moved behind the Jets who are desperate for O-line help. But the team he traded with was Pittsburgh, who crushed their dreams of finding Aaron Rodgers protection this year by grabbing Jones. Which was so perfect you have to assume GM Bill checked with the Steelers to confirm that's who they were taking. 

Instead, he got Christian Gonzalez, who is not only generally graded as the No. 2 corner in the Class of 2023, he was the 7th overall pick on the Consensus Big Board at NFL Mock Draft Database. 

Here's what I wrote about Gonzalez earlier:

The Consensus Round 1 Corners:

Christian Gonzalez, Oregon. 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, 4.38 40 time

Simply put, the best coverage defensive back of the 2023 draft. With the size, speed, agility and movement of someone you'd genetically engineer in a lab to play corner in the NFL. After he transferred from Colorado he had a career year, with four interceptions and nine forced incompletions. And he can tackle, with just 6% misses last year. He played some slot, but primarily stayed on the boundary X-receivers, and showed the skills to use the sideline to squeeze their routes in man coverage, which is his specialty. He's already a polished, complete corner, with 24 games played in the last two season. But there's still room to improve with experience and learning to use his size better on 50/50 balls.

Compares to the Other Leading Brand: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

I'll concede that I didn't think they'd be taking him. One, because I thought there was less than zero chance he'd fall to No. 14, never mind 17. But also because I assumed with the success of rookies Jack Jones and Marcus Jones last year, and the return of Jonathan Jones, they wouldn't make a priority of landing another Jon-- cornerback. But you can never have too many. Especially not in a division so stacked with wideouts and quarterbacks. But when you have the chance to add a 4th rounder - which will give the War Room even more flexibility to move around the board Friday and Saturday, and still get a top-tier talent at perhaps the second most position on the field in age of football, it's the no-braineriest of no-brainers. 

I'll add too that I thought the priority would be the offensive side of the ball. But with few elite talents at tight end and wide receiver but both positions made up of a strong middle class of second level talent, I'll assume that help is coming in Rounds 2 and 3 and beyond. Plus they still have 11 picks left. It's going to be a wild weekend.