B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots cashed the board's mistake on Johnson: B+.
by matthew22 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The real work happened on the phones. The Patriots fleeced their trade partners, turning their picks into a noticeably bigger pile than they started with. A dependable weekend that grades out a B+.
The Johnson value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
If Wilson pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. The Patriots clearly valued win-now help, adding bodies who have done it before.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 13th pick they get a matchup weapon at tight end. A real need, handled.
They read the board right and Jalon Walker was the payoff at pick 38. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
A tidy bit of business in the Round 3 slot, where Dylan Sampson graded well above the range. It fills a real need, too.
They jumped the gun on Jared Wilson, taking him earlier than his grade liked. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Somehow Tez Johnson was still sitting there in No. 132, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Emery Jones Jr. at Round 5, Pick 6. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Kitan Crawford at pick 219 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.