C
New England Patriots
Grand theft in No. 222: the Patriots steal Lambert-Smith and grade out a C.
by d ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The value of the weekend has a name and a slot: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, pick No. 222, roughly 33 picks past where he belonged.
The dealing is the wound this class cannot quite close. They will need Skattebo to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
Hit on Jalen Royals and the swing picks, and this ages a lot better than it grades today.
Pick-by-Pick
They did well to land Jalen Royals in No. 69, just ahead of his grade. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They liked Donovan Jackson enough to skip the value, taking him in slot 76. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A big swing on Cam Skattebo at pick No. 77, well ahead of any board in the building. The roster fit checks out.
A tidy bit of business in Round 4, Pick 4, where Ozzy Trapilo graded well above the range. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Joshua Farmer at the 145th pick is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Quincy Riley in the 181st overall pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. It adds depth where they could use a little.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Akili Arnold in the Round 7 slot. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
You do not let a wide receiver like KeAndre Lambert-Smith reach pick 222 and blink. They did not. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Clay Webb in the Round 7 slot is fair value, right on his grade. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.