B
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Howard fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.
by pj_doucette ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 9 steals
· 0 reaches
You build a draft on nights like this. Will Howard had no business being available in the 196th overall pick, and the Patriots did the only sane thing and turned in the card.
A whole weekend of picks and interior defensive lineman is somehow still a want. They left with edge rusher solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a bendy edge with upside at fair value. The biggest hole, addressed.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Emeka Egbuka in Round 2, Pick 6. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Jalon Walker at slot 69 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Somehow Colston Loveland was still sitting there in pick 70, and they pounced on premier tight end value. A need, and now a little less of one.
Steal is underselling it; Ozzy Trapilo at No. 113 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They barely believed it either: Darien Porter still on the board at pick No. 114. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Ajani Cornelius reach the 184th pick and blink. They did not. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Will Howard in the 196th overall pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Nohl Williams in Round 7, Pick 4 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
They let Jarquez Hunter come to them and pounced at the 240th overall pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.