B
New England Patriots
The Patriots cashed the board's mistake on Orange: B.
by pj_doucette ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
When a board-topper like Domonique Orange slides to pick No. 125, you do not overthink it, and the Patriots did not. More right than wrong, and a B to match.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through safety. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 31 they get a cornerstone up front, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
Derrick Moore in the Round 2 slot is fair value, right on his grade. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Bryce Lance in pick 95. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A interior defensive lineman of that caliber at the 125th overall pick is the definition of value, full stop. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They let Jack Endries come to them and pounced at slot 131. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Oscar Delp at No. 171 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It fills a real need, too.
Anez Cooper in the 191st pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Taylen Green in pick No. 198 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Value with a capital V on Jeff Caldwell in pick No. 202, a genuine coup. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They paid sticker price for Toriano Pride Jr. in slot 212, and that is fine. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Eli Heidenreich at pick 247 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.