A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the weekend at the trade table. Grade: A-.
by Biggs7079 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
If you want a masterclass in dealing, watch the Patriots, who turned every swap into a profit this weekend. It holds up to a second look, which is why it earns the A-.
The interior defensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Bell falling to them is the kind of break a good board is built to catch. If Rattler pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about.
The hoard sets up next April more than it helps this September.
The kind of weekend a front office frames and hangs on the wall.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 11th pick they get a bendy edge with upside. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick 23 they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
They let Amarius Mims come to them and pounced at No. 34. A need, and now a little less of one.
By-the-book stuff, Xavier Worthy at Round 3, Pick 4 squarely in line with his ranking. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They paid up for Spencer Rattler at slot 103 when waiting would have done the job. The roster fit checks out.
Beau Brade in the Round 5 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Nice patience on Jaheim Bell, who had no business lasting to pick No. 177. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Kamal Hadden slipping to the 180th overall pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Julian Pearl at pick 193 is a conviction pick that outran the value. The roster reasoning here is anyone's guess.
Frank Gore Jr. at No. 231 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It patches a soft spot without any drama.