B
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Cornelius fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.
by bringbackbrady ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Ajani Cornelius got past him. The Patriots do not have to explain a thing at slot 217. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B.
The Pierce pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. For all the activity, interior defensive lineman went untouched, which is hard to explain.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th pick they get a disruptor off the edge. The biggest hole, addressed.
The board had Nick Emmanwori higher than the Round 2 slot, and the safety fell to them anyway. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Jayden Higgins at pick No. 69 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Ozzy Trapilo in pick 77 is fair value, right on his grade. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They took Jared Wilson at par in the 106th overall pick, which is nothing to complain about. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Hollin Pierce. It fills a real need, too.
They paid up for Oronde Gadsden II at No. 181 when waiting would have done the job. A need, and now a little less of one.
A top-tier offensive lineman at a bargain, Ajani Cornelius in slot 217, plain and simple. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
The board fumbled Donovan Edwards all the way to Round 7, Pick 4, and they scooped it up. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.