B+
New England Patriots
The steal of the weekend belongs to the Patriots and Mondon Jr.: B+.
by Phaktz ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 5 reaches
Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Smael Mondon Jr. got past him. The Patriots do not have to explain a thing at slot 145. Good, not great, and the B+ says as much.
They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. Reaching for Nesbit left real value on the table behind him. They punted on quarterback, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
They went 6 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
Good work on the whole, with quarterback the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 12th overall pick they get a premier pass rusher, even if it was a touch early. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
In Round 1, Pick 28 they get a downhill hitter at safety, and a steal at that. The biggest hole, addressed.
They reached a country mile for Deone Walker at the 38th pick, and the board is aghast. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They jumped the gun on Barrett Carter, taking him earlier than his grade liked. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Value said wait; Ozzy Trapilo in No. 70 says they were not listening. It fills a real need, too.
Fair-plus on Savion Williams, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A tidy bit of business in pick 105, where Denzel Burke graded well above the range. A minor need, but a need all the same.
A tidy little value on Jack Nelson in slot 133, a step better than break-even. A need, and now a little less of one.
Taking Smael Mondon Jr. in the 145th pick is close to grand larceny; a linebacker that good had no business lasting this long. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Bryson Nesbit this early at slot 240. It patches a soft spot without any drama.