B-
New England Patriots
Quarterback settled, Maye in the fold, and a B- for the Patriots.
by Vc ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 0 steals
· 6 reaches
The war room fell hard for Kedon Slovis, and it showed at pick No. 193: 112 picks ahead of a board that had other ideas. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
Drake Maye is the bet, and the class will be judged on how it pays off. They punted on interior defensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. On the needs board they went 6 of 8, with edge rusher the one that mattered most.
Almost all the early capital went to that side of the ball.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the interior defensive lineman spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get the face of the franchise. A real need, handled.
Xavier Legette in the 43rd overall pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They reached a country mile for Dominick Puni at pick No. 68, and the board is aghast. It fills a real need, too.
Jalen McMillan at No. 79 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Elijah Jones in the 103rd pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It adds depth where they could use a little.
They paid up for Jalyx Hunt at Round 5, Pick 1 when waiting would have done the job. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A market-rate tight end, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Tip Reiman. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Kedon Slovis in the 193rd overall pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Rasheen Ali this early at No. 231. It patches a soft spot without any drama.