The New England Patriots actually followed a similar process in the first round of the NFL Draft over the last two years despite a drastically different reaction to each pick.

The Patriots have been roundly praised for trading back and landing Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez at No. 17 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft just one year after being mocked for trading back and taking Chattanooga guard Cole Strange 29th overall last year.

Gonzalez, 20, slid further than expected and is a young player who comes from a Power 5 school and plays a premium position. Strange, who was 23 when he was drafted, came from an FCS school and doesn’t play a highly-valued position. So, it’s understandable why post-first-round grades have been so dramatically different between the two players. But they also share a common trait.

Both Gonzalez and Strange received 9.95 relative athletic scores (RAS) based on their size and pre-draft measurables. They are two of the three most athletic players New England has ever drafted based on RAS, which shows a player's measurements on a 0-10 scale compared to their position group dating back to 1987.

Gonzalez is 6-foot-1, 197 pounds and ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 1.54-second 10-yard split, 41.5-inch vertical leap, 11-feet, 1-inch broad jump and 14 bench press reps of 225 pounds. He did not complete his agility testing (3-cone and short shuttle) before the draft.

Strange, at 6-foot-5, 307 pounds, ran a 5.03-second 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split, 28-inch vertical leap, 10-feet broad jump. 4.5-inch short shuttle and 7.44-second 3-cone drill with 31 bench press reps of 225 pounds.

Prior to last season, the Patriots hadn’t taken a first-round pick with an RAS in the 9s since 2011. Here are some recent scores:

QB Mac Jones, 2021: 7.15
WR N’Keal Harry, 2019: 8.44
OT Isaiah Wynn, 2018: incomplete
RB Sony Michel, 2018: 8.95
DT Malcom Brown, 2015: 5.99
DT Dominique Easley, 2014: incomplete
DE Chandler Jones, 2012: 8.29
LB Dont’a Hightower, 2012: 5.61
OT Nate Solder, 2011: 9.90

Safety Kyle Dugger, New England’s top pick in 2020 as a second-rounder, scored a 9.54.

The Patriots have seemingly put a recent emphasis on speed in the draft. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and running back Pierre Strong, both selected last year, were two of the fastest players in the draft.

Gonzalez has the 10th-highest RAS in the entire 2023 class. Strange also had the 10th-highest RAS in the entire 2022 class.

Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports