B+
New England Patriots
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Patriots and Pearsall: B+.
by Rocketman21k ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
When a board-topper like Ricky Pearsall slides to pick 229, you do not overthink it, and the Patriots did not. Call it a sensible B+, earned the boring way.
They punted on interior defensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
Good work on the whole, with interior defensive lineman the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 5 they get a matchup problem out wide. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Chop Robinson in slot 34 is fair value, right on his grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They took Xavier Legette at par in pick 37, which is nothing to complain about. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Somehow J.J. McCarthy was still sitting there in the 68th overall pick, and they pounced on premier quarterback value. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Patrick Paul at No. 69 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Blake Corum at the Round 4 slot is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at the 136th pick is the definition of value, full stop. A need, and now a little less of one.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Kitan Oladapo at pick No. 182 is the proof. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Circle this one: Ricky Pearsall at No. 229 is a fall that decides a draft. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.