A-
New England Patriots
A passer of the future in McCarthy, and a A-, for the Patriots.
by Bigbook ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 12 picks
· 2 steals
· 3 reaches
After circling the position for what felt like forever, the Patriots committed. J.J. McCarthy is the quarterback now, and the roster gets built to his timeline.
Reaching for DeLoach left real value on the table behind him. They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own.
They will regret leaving interior defensive lineman for another day if the season turns on it. Mims falling to them is the kind of break a good board is built to catch.
Bottom line, with J.J. McCarthy leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 31 they get the face of the franchise, even if it was a touch early. A clean fit for the roster.
Nice patience on Amarius Mims, who had no business lasting to Round 2, Pick 2. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Adonai Mitchell in the 35th pick. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Good price on Chop Robinson in slot 38, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Ja'Tavion Sanders at pick No. 66 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A straight-up fair deal on Trey Benson at No. 68, value and slot in agreement. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They paid sticker price for Khyree Jackson in the Round 4 slot, and that is fine. A minor itch, scratched.
A market-rate tight end, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jaheim Bell. It fills a real need, too.
Daijun Edwards at the Round 5 slot is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the running back. A need, and now a little less of one.
Javon Baker at pick 182 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A big swing on Christian Jones at the 184th overall pick, well ahead of any board in the building. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Kalen DeLoach in Round 7, Pick 9, miles early. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.