B
New England Patriots
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Patriots and Hunter: B.
by pj_doucette ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 8 steals
· 2 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Patriots watched Lee Hunter slide 77 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. The bottom line is a respectable B.
They punted on safety, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Reaching for Josephs left real value on the table behind him.
They went 6 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for. They trusted the board more than the depth chart.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the safety spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 31 they get juice off the edge, even if it was a touch early. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
You do not let a tight end like Kenyon Sadiq reach the 63rd pick and blink. They did not. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They barely believed it either: Blake Miller still on the board at pick No. 95. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They robbed the room for Lee Hunter here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Circle this one: Germie Bernard at pick 131 is a fall that decides a draft. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Charles Demmings in the Round 5 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
They did well to land Jeff Caldwell in slot 191, just ahead of his grade. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Sawyer Robertson at No. 198 is a conviction pick that outran the value. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Zane Durant in No. 202 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Ephesians Prysock at slot 212 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
They will replay Dae'Quan Wright at the Round 7 slot for years; that is how good the value is. It fills a real need, too.