B-
New England Patriots
Grand theft in the 125th pick: the Patriots steal Kilgore and grade out a B-.
by WannaBePatsGm ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 5 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Jalon Kilgore at No. 125 is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did.
If Norfleet pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.
On the needs board they went 5 of 8, with wide receiver the one that mattered most.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 31 they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, outstanding value to boot.
They jumped the gun on Elijah Sarratt, taking him earlier than his grade liked. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Mike Washington Jr. in the 95th overall pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Taking Jalon Kilgore in No. 125 is close to grand larceny; a cornerback that good had no business lasting this long. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
A premium they did not need to pay, Dametrious Crownover a notch or two before his time. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
The board had cheaper options than Dae'Quan Wright at the 171st pick, and it noticed. The roster fit checks out.
They paid up for Bobby Jamison-Travis at the Round 6 slot when waiting would have done the job. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Brett Norfleet in pick 247, miles early. A need, and now a little less of one.