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FOXBORO, Mass — The Patriots hope to have drafted their next shutdown corner.
After trading with the Pittsburgh Steelers to move back three slots from 14, the Patriots selected cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The 6′1″ Oregon product is the first time New England has drafted a cornerback in the first round since Devin McCourty in 2010.
Gonzalez left Colorado to transfer to Oregon last season, where he finished his junior year with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups, the most on the team in each category. Gonzalez was projected to go in the top half of the Draft’s first round, according to many draft pundits.
The Patriots will add Gonzalez’ outstanding athleticism to a cornerback room already containing Jonathan Jones and promising second-year players Marcus and Jack Jones. New England hopes Gonzalez will join the likes of Ty Law, Darrelle Revis and Stephon Gilmore as corners that patrolled the sidelines for championship-contending teams.
The Patriots picked up an extra 4th round pick in their trade back with the Steelers.
New England is next to scheduled to be on the clock with the 46th overall pick in the Second Round on Friday night.
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