B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots finally solved quarterback, and it carried them to a B+.
by BBB ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 16 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
The search is over. The Patriots handed the keys to Jayden Daniels, and the whole operation now runs on his development.
The Johnson pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. The safety hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Every board in the league had Jean-Baptiste lower, and that gap is the story.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 5 they get a passer to set the clock by. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 28th pick they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. The biggest hole, addressed.
They took Adonai Mitchell at par in pick 34, which is nothing to complain about. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They let Kingsley Suamataia come to them and pounced at pick No. 68. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A market-rate running back, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Braelon Allen. A need, and now a little less of one.
Khyree Jackson in the 103rd overall pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
No drama and no debate, Christian Jones went about where he belonged in the Round 4 slot. The roster fit checks out.
Ben Sinnott in Round 4, Pick 29 is fair value, right on his grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A reach on Justin Eboigbe in Round 5, Pick 1; the board had better options right there. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Nelson Ceaser at the Round 5 slot is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Braiden McGregor at the 177th pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A wild overpay on Julian Pearl in pick 180, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste at pick No. 193 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
You do not let a wide receiver like Cornelius Johnson reach slot 222 and blink. They did not. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A tidy bit of business in No. 230, where Gabe Hall graded well above the range. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They paid sticker price for Trevin Wallace in the 231st overall pick, and that is fine. It adds depth where they could use a little.