Patriots
“I preferred our draft this yr, and I hope that interprets on the sphere.”
After acknowledging again in March that he was “very disillusioned” with the Patriots’ 2022 season, Robert Kraft echoed a extra optimistic message about New England’s possibilities of a bounce-back season on Thursday.
Whereas chatting with ESPN’s Mike Reiss and different reporters on the Myra Kraft Neighborhood MVP Awards luncheon at Gillette Stadium, Kraft defined why he’s inspired by this revamped roster.
“I’m excited to have soccer again,” Kraft stated. “I preferred our draft this yr, and I hope that interprets on the sphere. I do know the blokes are working very arduous. I believe now we have probably the most tough division within the NFL — the perfect stability of groups. All the opposite three groups are good, so we’ll have our challenges. However I’m actually hopeful about this staff.”
It’s nonetheless far too early to measurement up New England’s 2023 draft class and whether or not or not they will make an instantaneous influence on the sphere this fall. However final month, Kraft stated on NFL Community that New England was in a position to choose all seven gamers that they initially tabbed on their draft board.
“I used to be pondering, draft day, on the finish of draft day, my eldest son Jonathan and I had been chatting and I stated, ‘This was a fantastic, nice draft. I’m actually optimistic in regards to the staff,’” Kraft stated. “And he stated, ‘Dad, you try this yearly. You say that yearly.’ However I actually consider it.
“We had been in a position to get the highest seven picks that we had recognized earlier than the draft. I believe it provides us a great stability of what our wants are. I believe our free agent pickups, and getting (offensive coordinator) Invoice O’Brien in, will make a giant distinction and I’m very looking forward to the staff.”
Invoice O’Brien’s steadying affect on an offensive unit marred by dysfunction in 2022 ought to assist New England make a push for the playoffs this fall, particularly if Mac Jones rebounds from a poor sophomore marketing campaign.
Even when the Patriots make main strides in 2023, there isn’t any assure that the staff pushes additional up within the standings, particularly when factoring in different powerful matchups in opposition to the Eagles, Chiefs, Chargers, and extra.
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