B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Coleman fall and pounced. Final grade: B-.
by Brop9404 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 6 steals
· 3 reaches
Somebody in pick No. 98 was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Patriots sat still while Keon Coleman, the No. 23 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
Tupuola-Fetui has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. They will answer for taking TE-EDGE early while interior defensive lineman, safety and other spots went begging. The interior defensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with edge rusher chief among the fixes.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 23 they get protection for the quarterback, and a steal at that. A real need, handled.
Malik Nabers in the 34th pick should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Nice patience on Bo Nix, who had no business lasting to pick No. 37. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A straight-up fair deal on Patrick Paul at the 42nd overall pick, value and slot in agreement. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
By-the-book stuff, Ja'Lynn Polk at No. 57 squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They let Ja'Tavion Sanders come to them and pounced at pick 68. It fills a real need, too.
They talked themselves into Sedrick Van Pran at the Round 3 slot, and the board did not agree. A need, and now a little less of one.
A premium they did not need to pay, Khyree Jackson a notch or two before his time. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Steal is underselling it; Keon Coleman at pick 98 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Cade Stover at TE-EDGE with interior defensive lineman, safety and other spots open.
A big swing on Zion Tupuola-Fetui at the Round 5 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.