B
New England Patriots
Daniels is the Patriots' new face under center. Grade: B.
by Sean romiza ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 5 steals
· 2 reaches
The rest of the league will want that one back. Ja'Lynn Polk tumbling to the Patriots in the Round 6 slot is a gift they did not have to think twice about.
So much rides on Jayden Daniels that the rest of the class almost grades on a curve behind him. Reaching for Liufau left real value on the table behind him. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with wide receiver chief among the fixes.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
They paid sticker price for Jayden Daniels in pick 3, and that is fine. The roster fit checks out.
Malik Nabers at pick No. 34 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Rome Odunze in Round 3, Pick 4 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Cooper Beebe reach pick No. 103 and blink. They did not. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Marist Liufau at the Round 5 slot is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Value said wait; Jaylan Ford in No. 180 says they were not listening. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
Steal is underselling it; Ja'Lynn Polk at slot 193 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
The board fumbled Joe Milton III all the way to the 231st overall pick, and they scooped it up. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.