B-
New England Patriots
More right than wrong for the Patriots, and a B- to prove it.
by drubaca ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 1 steals
· 3 reaches
The Patriots clearly saw something nobody else did in Jordan Travis, taking him 69 picks ahead of his grade. The board is not convinced. They moved the roster forward and banked a B- for it.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Hadden falling to them is the kind of break a good board is built to catch. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 12th overall pick they get a cornerstone up front. A real need, handled.
In the Round 1 slot they get a weapon on the perimeter at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 31 they get a long-term starter on the line. A clean fit for the roster.
Cade Stover in slot 68 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. The roster fit checks out.
Mike Sainristil at pick No. 76 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A minor need, but a need all the same.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jordan Travis. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Ainias Smith in No. 137 is fair value, right on his grade. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They paid sticker price for Tommy Eichenberg in the Round 5 slot, and that is fine. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Kamal Hadden is a better player than pick No. 180 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A reach on Kendall Milton in slot 193; the board had better options right there. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Jalen Coker in the 231st pick, miles early. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.