The New England Patriots are going to be busy on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. After knocking it out of the park with their first three selections, the team is currently scheduled to take nine players between Rounds 4 and 7. Now, it’s highly unlikely New England stands actually does that, as it’s basically impossible to roster that many drafted rookies. They’re going to trade up at some point, which means just about any player left on the board is fair game for the Patriots.
4 New England Patriots Day 3 NFL Draft Targets
1. Roschon Johnson, RB
Rhamondre Stevenson is one of the better young running backs in the league, but Bill Belichick loves having more than one reliable name in the backfield. Right now, he doesn’t have a second option, as James Robinson did not play well last year, and Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris are completely untested. Roschon Johnson didn’t play too much in college, but you can’t blame the guy for not being able to beat out Bijan Robinson. When he did play, Johnson looked like he has what it takes to be a part of an NFL committee.
Would be dope if nick got us roschon Johnson today pic.twitter.com/7HdMZoKNnD
— 🏆🧩James🧩🏆 (@Autch14) April 29, 2023
2. Dawand Jones, OT
How is Dawand Jones still on the board? While there are whispers of attitude issues, the fact of the matter is that the Patriots desperately need another tackle, and Jones is the only player left on the board that has a chance of being good enough to come in and compete from Day 1. Replacing Matt Patricia with Bill O’Brien is a good first step in fixing the offense, but New England needs to improve the actual on-field talent if they want the unit to make a serious leap. Seeing as they didn’t add any offensive firepower through the first three rounds, the Patriots will have to do it all on Day 3.
3. Parker Washington, WR
Johnson and Jones will probably go off the board near the top of the fourth round, but Penn State’s Parker Washington should be there in the fifth round or later. New England loves their slot receivers, and while Juju Smith-Schuster currently occupies the role, New England could use a young developmental prospect to serve as an understudy. The Penn State product has no issue with going over the middle of the field and taking a massive hit in the name of gaining a few extra yards, and his elusiveness in the open field is second to none of the players left on the board. While he lacks the ceiling to be anything more than reliable depth, he could develop into a good third or fourth option in the passing attack.
Parker Washington has smooth quick feet & elusiveness to make defenders miss.
He combines it with a thick-build, physicality & contact-balance that allows him to turn short passes into longer gains. Has enough speed & acceleration in space to take plays to the distance #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/sVrh3EF11o
— WBG84 (@WBG84) April 25, 2023
4. Viliami Fehoko, EDGE
Let’s wrap this Patriots Day 3 prospect watch up with a player that will probably be there when New England makes their final pick of the NFL Draft. Coming out of small school San Jose State, Viliami Fehoko is a very raw prospect that has yet to prove himself against top competition, but you have to love the way he plays the game. The edge defender plays every snap like it’s his last, and his motor never slows at any point in the game. You can tell he has a true passion for the game, and he is athletic enough to eventually develop into a rotational edge defender. He might have to start his career on the practice squad, but his energy on the field will easily earn him a spot in Bill Belichick’s heart.
Main Photo: Kyle Robertson – USA Today Sports
