A-
New England Patriots
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Patriots a A-.
by 2 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 2 steals
· 3 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.
The Smith reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through interior defensive lineman. The Gray pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
In the end it comes back to Tyler Warren, and a haul good enough to build on right away.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 19 they get a matchup weapon at tight end at fair value. A real need, handled.
In pick No. 24 they get a building block for the line, even if it was a touch early.
A slide stopped in the Round 3 slot, with Jayden Higgins worth more than the price. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A reach for David Walker in No. 97; a little patience would have been rewarded. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Cam Skattebo in the 106th overall pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
No drama and no debate, Jackson Slater went about where he belonged in Round 5, Pick 6. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
No edge and no loss on Alijah Huzzie in the 217th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. It adds depth where they could use a little.
They let Joshua Gray come to them and pounced at pick 220. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They reached into another round for Donovan Smith, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.