After an entertaining first two nights of the 2023 NFL draft, Day 3 brought its own level of excitement.
It started before the fourth round even began, as teams moved up and down the draft board, and it continued, making this year’s selection event the one with the most trades in history.
The four teams in the AFC East, including the Miami Dolphins, made selections that will likely make the division that much more competitive.
Here are the moves that the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills made on Saturday:
New England Patriots - No. 107 - C Jake Andrews
Bill Belichick used his fourth pick of the 2023 draft to bring in Troy offensive lineman Jake Andrews.
Andrews has the ability to play at any of three interior spots, which is important, considering the team’s starting center David Andrews has missed games in recent years and right guard Michael Onwenu could be forced out to right tackle again.
New England Patriots - No. 112 - K Chad Ryland
Belichick did something he rarely does, as he traded with the New York Jets. He did so this year to draft Maryland kicker Chad Ryland with pick No. 112 overall.
The Patriots have relied on veteran Nick Folk in recent years, but with Folk turning 39 years old this year, New England is smart to start looking elsewhere for the future.
New England Patriots - No. 117 - OL Sidy Sow
With pick No. 117, New England’s third of Day 3, the Patriots drafted Eastern Michigan guard Sidy Sow.
Belichick adds more depth on the offensive line which will have a lot of competition for roster and practice squad spots throughout training camp and the preseason.
New York Jets - No. 120 - OT Carter Warren
With pick No. 120, in the fourth round, the New York Jets used their first pick of Day 3 on Pittsburgh offensive tackle Carter Warren.
The Jets don’t have a cornerstone at right tackle, opposite Mekhi Becton, so Warren could compete with Duane Brown, Max Mitchell and Cedric Ogbuehi for the starting role.
Even if he doesn’t win that battle, Becton hasn’t been healthy in his NFL career, so he could be a contributor on the left side.
New York Jets - No. 143 - RB Israel Abanikanda
The Jets added Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda with pick No. 143, in the fifth round.
Abnikanda joins a stacked, young room for New York that also includes Breece Hall, Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter. During three seasons at Pitt, he recorded 2,177 yards and 28 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry.
With Hall coming back from an injury, Abnikanda’s addition should allow last year’s second-round pick to come back in his time.
New England Patriots - No. 144 - UCLA OL Atonio Mafi
For the third time on Saturday, the Patriots added to the interior offensive line, as they drafted UCLA guard Atonio Mafi with pick No. 144.
He, along with Sow and Andrews will compete with Chasen Hines, James Ferentz and defensive lineman-turned-guard Bill Murray for the depth and practice squad spots on the interior.
Buffalo Bills - No. 150 - WR Justin Shorter
For the first time on Day 3, the Bills finally made a pick after trading down. At No. 150, Buffalo selected Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter.
Shorter spent five seasons in college, the first two as a Penn State Nittany Lion and the last three as a Gator. During his career, he recorded 110 receptions for 1,552 yards and eight touchdowns.
He could provide a deep threat for Josh Allen, allowing for Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, Dawson Knox and rookie Dalton Kincaid to work underneath.
New York Jets - No. 184 - LB Zaire Barnes
The Jets used their third pick of the third day to add to their impressive defense, as they selected Western Michigan linebacker Zaire Barnes with No. 184.
New York used two picks in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2021 draft to add linebacker depth in Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen. They may be looking to upgrade there or at least create competition with this selection.
New England Patriots - No. 187 - WR Kayshon Boutte
For the first time in the 2023 NFL draft, Belichick got Mac Jones a pass-catcher, as he used pick No. 187 on LSU wideout Kayshon Boutte.
The fourth wide receiver role in New England is wide-open behind Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster and old friend DeVante Parker, so Boutte might be able to find a small roll as a rookie.
New England Patriots - No. 192 - P Bryce Baringer
After adding a kicker earlier in the draft, the Patriots used pick No. 192 to select Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer.
New England moved on from Jake Bailey, who signed with Miami, this offseason and replaced him with former Broncos punter Corliss Waitman. The two will likely have a battle this offseason for the job.
New York Jets - No. 204 - CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
General manager Joe Douglas used pick No. 204 to go back-to-back on defensive picks, selecting LSU cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
Behind Sauce Gardner, the Jets have some talented cornerbacks, but there aren’t many slots that are already spoken for. Bernard-Converse will have an opportunity to compete.
New England Patriots - No. 210 - WR Demario Douglas
Belichick goes back-to-back wide receivers, this time adding Liberty’s Demario Douglas at No. 210.
More weapons for Mac Jones, even if they’re not top options, any bit helps an offense that was anemic for portions of 2022.
New England Patriots - No. 214 - CB Ameer Speed
Belichick jumps back to the defensive side of the ball, adding Michigan State’s Ameer Speed with pick No. 214.
Speed is mainly a special teams player, so the Patriots are really continuing to focus on the third phase of the game that they hold so highly.
New York Jets - No. 220 - TE Zack Kuntz
The Jets entered the weekend with two solid tight end options for Aaron Rodgers in Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, and they just added a third, as they used pick No. 220 on Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz.
He had 73 receptions in 2021, and he could be turned into a real weapon by Rodgers and company.
Buffalo Bills - No. 230 - OL Nick Broeker
With pick No. 230, Beane added Ole Miss offensive lineman Nick Broeker. At this point, they’re hoping to find a versatile player who can contribute at guard or tackle. That may give him a leg up over other depth options this offseason.
New England Patriots - No. 245 - CB Isaiah Bolden
For the third time in this draft, Belichick brought in a cornerback, this time drafting Jackson State cornerback Isaiah Bolden at No. 245 overall.
Bolden, coming from Deion Sanders’ school, is obviously making a big jump from the SWAC to the NFL. He could push for a bottom of the roster or practice squad spot.
Buffalo Bills - No. 252 - CB Alex Austin
With just their third selection on Day 3, the Bills turned back to the defense adding Oregon State cornerback Alex Austin.
Buffalo has some impressive corners, including Tre’Davious White, Dane Jackson, Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam, so Austin would have to make the team as a special teamer first.
