B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots drew a line under the quarterback search with Maye: B-.
by jmano21 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
Nobody else had J.J. Weaver anywhere near No. 229. The Patriots did, by 82 spots, and that gap is the whole story. Good, not great, and the B- says as much.
Everything downstream of Drake Maye depends on Drake Maye, and the building knows it. They banked enough surplus on McCaffrey to cover a lot of smaller sins. Leaving safety unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with edge rusher chief among the fixes.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but safety.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 3 they get a franchise quarterback at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Troy Fautanu at the Round 2 slot is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A straight-up fair deal on Xavier Legette at Round 3, Pick 4, value and slot in agreement. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Nice patience on Caelen Carson, who had no business lasting to pick 104. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Fabien Lovett at the 136th overall pick is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
The board fumbled Luke McCaffrey all the way to pick No. 182, and they scooped it up. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
J.J. Weaver at the 229th overall pick is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.