TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnson. Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Potential options for Patriots with 14th overall pick

After finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs, the New England Patriots have the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. New England desperately needs a wide receiver and an offensive tackle, and the draft is filled with great options at each position.

The size of Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (6-foot-6 and 311 pounds) may remind some of current New England OT Trent Brown, who stands 6-8 and weighs 359 pounds. Johnson Jr. has experience playing as an interior lineman and tackle, which could be enticing for head coach Bill Belichick, who values versatility.

Johnson Jr. is physical, athletic and absurdly strong. The Patriots had trouble protecting QB Mac Jones' blind side in 2022, making Johnson an interesting option.

Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones is another possibility. His versatility allows him to be used in open space to block corners and linebackers, which opens possibilities with play calling. An athletic and mobile tackle could change everything for the Patriots, who could have a new playbook and offensive coordinator in 2023.

In 2022, the Patriots' wide receiving corps was not a strength. Belichick drafted Tyquan Thornton in the second round in 2022 and traded for DeVante Parker, but neither made a significant impact.

TCU's Quentin Johnson is one of the more athletic receivers in the draft. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he has the size to dominate against smaller corners and the shiftiness to elude most defenders. 

He barely eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in 2022 (1,069), but his ability to do what he does in the video below erases any doubts about his NFL worthiness.

In 2021, Jordan Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver. As a sophomore at Pitt, he had 100 catches for 1,593 yards as Kenny Pickett's top weapon. At 6-foot and 175 pounds, he's much smaller than Johnson.

In 2022, Addison transferred to Southern Cal, where he battled an ankle injury and put up lesser numbers (59 catches, 875 yards). Unlike Johnson, Addison's game is based on his ability to separate from defenders.

At No. 14, New England may have a shot at Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who missed most of 2022 because of a hamstring injury.

In 2022, he had only five catches for 43 yards. Most fans remember Smith-Njigba for an epic showing in the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah in which he set a bowl record with 347 receiving yards.

As you can see, there should be plenty of intriguing options for the Patriots at No. 14 regardless of which direction they choose to go with the pick. While missing the playoffs stings, the opportunity to add an impact player at a position of need is a nice consolation prize as the team looks to bounce back in 2023. 

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