The Patriots are receiving glowing reviews across the NFL landscape for selecting Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
New England's brass is ecstatic that Gonzalez slid to the teens where the Pats not only landed the stud corner but also netted another fourth-round selection by trading down from the 14th overall pick to the 17th overall draft choice. The Patriots got a blue-chip talent they view as a potential number-one cornerback they'll now have under team control for five seasons.
Although Gonzalez's athletic profile and film made him an excellent fit to begin with, Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh added another layer of intrigue from a schematic perspective.