NESN

● By Zack Cox
With the first wave of NFL free agency complete, we now have a clearer picture of which positions the New England Patriots might prioritize in next month’s 2023 NFL Draft. Without further ado, here’s our first crack at a post-free agency Patriots mock draft, which aims to address the team’s two most glaring needs in Rounds 1 and 2. Like our first mock, which was published March 7, this one does not include simulated trades. The Patriots own 11 picks in all after acquiring a seventh-rounder in last week’s Jonnu Smith trade.