Mel Kiper Jr. Predicts Patriots First-Round Pick In Final 2023 Mock Draft

The New England Patriots have to address several major needs in the 2023 NFL Draft, but head coach Bill Belichick won’t really go after any linebackers. The Patriots do really well at this position and they don’t need additional depth. Well, Mel Kiper Jr. has a prediction for the Patriots and their first-round pick in the draft. Yes, he believes the team will get a linebacker.

According to Kiper, the Patriots will select a linebacker in the first round of the draft. In his final mock draft, Kiper has the Patriots using their very first pick to get Nolan Smith from Georgia.

“Smith strikes me as exactly the type of edge defender the Patriots would love to have,” Kiper wrote. “He could rack up 10 sacks per season for Bill Belichick and company. I love this fit.”

Belichick likes to go up and down the draft in order to get the players who can contribute to his game plan. Initial mock drafts had the Patriots trade down to No.20 in order to select offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Kiper things that the Green Bay Packers will get Wright before the Patriots get to select their players.

Patriots to play smart with the first-round pick

Jeremy Fowler from ESPN claims that Smith won’t make it past the 17^th overall pick. If Belichick wants the player, he will probably do his best to get him.

Kiper knows how to show Patriots fans and his final mock draft has people talking about all the crazy scenarios related to Belichick’s team. It will be nice to see them select top prospects with a potential to lead the team to a win.

The Patriots didn’t have much luck in the last few seasons and fans aren’t really happy with the outcome. Team owner Robert Kraft shares the same opinion. The Patriots haven’t won a title since the 2018 season and Kraft is really impatient. Hopefully, the Patriots will find their way to the top and win a title this time. Who will be the first player to join the team? Who will be the next player to leave the team?