Now that the dust has settled following the initial wave of free agency signings, let’s assess the Patriots’ roster needs ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
New England has 11 picks this year, starting with No. 14 in the first round.
The four positions of need:
Wide receiver
After parting ways with Jakobi Meyers and signing JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Patriots are still in need of a wide receiver — particularly in the long term. Only Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are under contract beyond the upcoming season.
The Patriots may have enough to get by in the short term, with Smith-Schuster as a slot receiver, Thornton as a speedy vertical threat, Kendrick Bourne as the dynamic playmaker he proved to be in 2021, and DeVante Parker as the go-to guy for contested catches.