FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Steal at 17: Cornerback Christian Gonzalez earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September led ESPN senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. to reflect on what had been one of his biggest surprises of the 2023 draft.
“All of the projections I did had him going in the top 10. He was right there as the best corner or the second-best corner -- he had the same grade for me as Devon Witherspoon did.