The New England Patriots are in a tough spot as they enter the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

At 14th overall, this year’s premier players could be off the board, so it would make sense to move up to get one of those prospects or back to pick up additional draft capital.

That’s what New England is looking to do, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

“(T)o me, what best defines this draft class is what’s happening with the teams between 10 and 14 — in order, the Eagles, Titans, Texans, Packers and Patriots,” Breer wrote Thursday. “I’m told all five of those teams have been making calls to teams above them about trading up and down. And it’s no coincidence that, in a year when everyone seems to be looking to trade down, it’s the group in that alley of picks that are looking both ways at this intersection of the draft.”

There are eight “non-quarterbacks at the top” of the draft, per Breer: Alabama edge defender Will Anderson, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Texas Tech edge defender Tyree Wilson, Oregon cornerback Chistian Gonzalez, Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson, Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski and Texas running back Bijan Robinson. All eight of those players could be gone by the time the Patriots are picking, especially if any of the top four quarterbacks — Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson — fall out of the top 14 picks.

The Patriots could feel they can get similar value at No. 14 overall as they could in the 20s. But other teams likely feel the same way, making it difficult to move down and get worthy draft capital. That puts the Patriots and other teams in “no man's land,” one head coach told Breer on Wednesday.

We’ll find out in just a few hours how the Patriots will play their hand. They have needs at offensive tackle and cornerback, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a running back, wide receiver, tight end, edge defender or even safety, as well. They also met with Levis and Richardson before the draft.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick loves trading during the NFL Draft. So, even if New England wasn't in "no man's land," the team would probably still be making calls.

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