A
New England Patriots
Grand theft in slot 220: the Patriots steal Mondon Jr. and grade out a A.
by Crweekend ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 9 steals
· 0 reaches
Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Smael Mondon Jr. got past him. The Patriots do not have to explain a thing at slot 220.
The phones were where this weekend was really won. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
Add it up and this is about as clean as a draft weekend gets.
Pick-by-Pick
Taking Tyler Warren in Round 2, Pick 6 is close to grand larceny; a tight end that good had no business lasting this long. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They will replay Jihaad Campbell at slot 69 for years; that is how good the value is. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Kaleb Johnson in pick 80 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at the Round 4 slot is the definition of value, full stop. The roster fit checks out.
They barely believed it either: Kevin Winston Jr. still on the board at the 135th pick. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Barrett Carter in the 143rd overall pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Circle this one: Terrance Ferguson at pick No. 217 is a fall that decides a draft. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
The board fumbled Smael Mondon Jr. all the way to No. 220, and they scooped it up. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
The board had Seth McLaughlin higher than Round 7, Pick 22, and the offensive lineman fell to them anyway. It fills a real need, too.