The New England Patriots own the 14th pick in this week’s 2023 NFL Draft. Landing an impact player with that pick isn’t just important — it’s imperative.
“You can’t miss on those guys,” director of player personnel Matt Groh stressed last week in his pre-draft news conference. “That’s an investment. That’s a four- or five-year investment. … You’d better do your homework and make sure you get those guys right, from a character perspective and from a player perspective.”
That homework now is complete and ready to be turned in. The Patriots spent the last two-plus months closely vetting hundreds of college prospects, including dozens of potential first-round picks, as they constructed and finalized their draft board.