NFL Draft 2023: 5 teams that won the first round

No. 4 team that won the first round of the NFL Draft: New England Patriots

Sometimes, it’s not about what you do in the draft, it’s about what you don’t do.

Considering Will Levis’ slip out of the first round entirely, the fact that the Patriots didn’t bother trading up to get him as a replacement for Mac Jones feels like the right move.

Actually, New England let the draft come to them, and boy did it deliver a doozy of a pick. The Patriots moved back from No. 14 overall in a trade with the Steelers and it paid off big time when Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez fell into their lap at No. 17.

Gonzalez was considered by some to be the top cornerback in the draft. He had a Top 10 grade in some circles. So the fact that he was available that far back was a surprise.

In the end, the Patriots got a talent at cornerback while adding a fourth-round pick via Pittsburgh to their picks list. And they didn’t reach on a quarterback destined to fall out of the first round.