B-
New England Patriots
Grand theft in the 219th overall pick: the Patriots steal Reed and grade out a B-.
by dinisco ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
When a board-topper like Jaylen Reed slides to pick 219, you do not overthink it, and the Patriots did not.
Reaching for Nesbit left real value on the table behind him. For all the activity, edge rusher went untouched, which is hard to explain.
A small leak at the table, if not a fatal one.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 14 they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
No drama and no debate, Jihaad Campbell went about where he belonged in pick No. 38. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
They let Armand Membou come to them and pounced at slot 45. It fills a real need, too.
Alfred Collins slid further than he should have, and Round 3, Pick 5 is lovely value for the interior defensive lineman. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A quiet steal in the Round 3 slot: Deone Walker for less than the market said. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They paid sticker price for Cam Skattebo in the 105th overall pick, and that is fine. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
JJ Pegues in the 145th pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Taking Jaylen Reed in pick 219 is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A wild overpay on Bryson Nesbit in Round 7, Pick 4, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A straight-up fair deal on Jaylin Smith at slot 240, value and slot in agreement. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.