A
New England Patriots
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Patriots a A.
by Pats ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 2 steals
· 1 reaches
The Patriots ran the phones like sharks, prying loose value on deal after deal until the ledger was lopsided. The sum of the weekend is a deserved A.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Laube.
If Knox pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Few war rooms will sleep better than this one tonight.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 5 they get a home-run threat at receiver. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In the 29th overall pick they get a plug-and-play piece up front at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Devontez Walker at pick No. 68 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They paid sticker price for Cole Bishop in pick 106, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Josh Newton in Round 4, Pick 36 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Dylan Laube is a better player than the Round 5 slot suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A need, and now a little less of one.
No drama and no debate, Caedan Wallace went about where he belonged in No. 182. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Good price on Michael Barrett in the 223rd pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
They went early on Trey Knox in slot 229, and the value did not follow. It fills a real need, too.