B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots left with their quarterback, and a B- to match.
by NE4EVER ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 0 steals
· 5 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Patriots spent their marquee pick on Drake Maye, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up. They will need Flax to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with wide receiver chief among the fixes. The offense got the lion's share of the attention.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
Drake Maye in Round 1, Pick 3 is fair value, right on his grade. It fills a real need, too.
They jumped the gun on Devontez Walker, taking him earlier than his grade liked. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Malachi Corley at the 68th overall pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Mason McCormick at the 104th pick is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They paid a round early for Dallin Holker in the Round 4 slot, more than the board wanted. The roster fit checks out.
Isaiah Davis in pick 182 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A need, and now a little less of one.
Value said wait; Jeremy Flax in slot 229 says they were not listening. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.