B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots finally solved quarterback, and it carried them to a B+.
by Bigbook ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Patriots spent their marquee pick on J.J. McCarthy, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. It does the job without flash, and the B+ reflects it.
Landing Smith that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. Leaving interior defensive lineman unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
A tidy weekend of work that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a matchup problem out wide. The biggest hole, addressed.
In Round 1, Pick 27 they get their quarterback of the future at fair value. A real need, handled.
A quiet steal in slot 34: Troy Fautanu for less than the market said. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A tidy bit of business in pick No. 68, where Bralen Trice graded well above the range. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A slide stopped in the 90th overall pick, with Khyree Jackson worth more than the price. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Will Shipley at the 104th pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Ainias Smith in No. 136. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Kamal Hadden is a better player than pick 182 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
They barely believed it either: Tykee Smith still on the board at the 188th overall pick. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Frank Gore Jr. at Round 7, Pick 9 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.