A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the weekend at the trade table. Grade: A-.
by Bigbook ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
Give the war room a raise for the dealing alone. The Patriots came out ahead on every exchange that mattered, and it was not close. The board rewarded a patient, disciplined weekend with a A-.
The offensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. That is a safety worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly. The Patriots clearly valued win-now help, adding bodies who have done it before.
It is a haul that will look even better come September.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 17th pick they get a problem off the edge at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In pick No. 27 they get a mismatch in the passing game, though they paid up to get him. A real need, handled.
Bo Nix at slot 34 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. A need, and now a little less of one.
No edge and no loss on T'Vondre Sweat in Round 2, Pick 16; it is a wash and a sensible one. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Xavier Legette at the Round 3 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A slide stopped in No. 104, with Brenden Rice worth more than the price. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Ainias Smith in pick 136 lands just on the right side of the ledger. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Kalen King in the 137th overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Sione Vaki at pick 182 is money in the bank, a safety taken below his worth. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Frank Gore Jr. at the Round 7 slot nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A conviction pick on Tatum Bethune at slot 241 that the board grades a round light. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.