The New England Patriots have selected Christian Gonzalez, a cornerback from Oregon, after trading down three positions in the first round.

Following a three-year career with the Colorado Buffaloes and the Oregon Ducks, the 6-foot-1 cornerback will contribute much-needed size to the Patriots’ secondary. Last season at Oregon, Gonzalez intercepted four passes while recording 51 total tackles.

“I’m very excited to play under [Bill Belichick],” said Gonzalez on Thursday night. “It’s impossible to find a greater coach than that. Therefore, I’m simply eager to learn and compete.”

On the clock at No. 14 overall, the Patriots traded the selection to the Steelers, falling a few spots while adding a fourth-round pick to their draft arsenal this weekend.

The Steelers selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones from Georgia with this selection. The Patriots acquired their fourth selection of the fourth round, virtually assuring that additional transactions will occur on Friday and Saturday.

Gonzalez described himself as a combatant shortly after his selection was announced.

“Someone who is versatile, fast, long, and tall, who can move, and who loves to learn and wants to learn all the nuances of the defense and how they all work together,” he explained.

After concluding last season with an 8-9 record, the Patriots owned the 14th overall pick. It would have been the Patriots’ highest selection since selecting Jerod Mayo with the No. 10 overall decision in the 2008 draft.

Instead, the 17th overall selection is comparable to Mac Jones (15th overall, 2021), Nate Solder (17th overall, 2011), and Ty Warren (13th overall, 2003) as selections in the teens during the Bill Belichick era.

Gonzalez, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein, is a “explosive outside cornerback possessing a rare blend of physical and athletic traits,” who also possesses “blazing top-end speed, which should help him match up against top-end targets in the future.”

Pro Football Focus ranked Gonzalez as the second-best cornerback in the draft, behind only Seahawks’ fifth-overall selection Devon Witherspoon.

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