A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots left with their quarterback, and a A- to match.
by BBB ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 19 picks
· 2 steals
· 7 reaches
The Patriots spent the pick that matters most on Drake Maye, and a roster that has been waiting on a passer can start to take shape. The board rewarded a patient, disciplined weekend with a A-.
However the rest shakes out, Hicks at that price is a win they earned. Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck.
The Barner reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. The DeAndre Hopkins deal gives the class an established piece to lean on.
Bottom line, with Drake Maye leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 7th overall pick they get a long-term answer under center. A clean fit for the roster.
They jumped the gun on Xavier Legette, taking him earlier than his grade liked. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Chris Braswell in Round 2, Pick 15 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
By-the-book stuff, Kingsley Suamataia at the Round 3 slot squarely in line with his ranking. A need, and now a little less of one.
A straight-up fair deal on Patrick Paul at No. 78, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They took Devontez Walker at par in slot 79, which is nothing to complain about. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
No edge and no loss on Maason Smith in pick 100; it is a wash and a sensible one. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
A safety of that caliber at the 101st pick is the definition of value, full stop. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Mohamed Kamara in the 103rd pick is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Theo Johnson at the 105th overall pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
The board had Khyree Jackson higher than the Round 4 slot, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Isaac Guerendo in pick No. 137 is fair value, right on his grade. The roster fit checks out.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Elijah Jones. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
They paid up for Myles Cole at pick 140 when waiting would have done the job. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A big swing on Marist Liufau at Round 5, Pick 5, well ahead of any board in the building. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
A real head-scratcher, AJ Barner in slot 142 is miles ahead of his ranking. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They paid sticker price for Luke McCaffrey in the 146th pick, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste at the 180th overall pick is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Jaylan Ford at the Round 6 slot jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.