B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots bet the future on Maye. The board says B-.
by NE4EVER ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
Start where it matters. The Patriots took Drake Maye to run the offense for the next decade, and every other decision this weekend bends around that one.
The Jackson pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. Reaching for Holker left real value on the table behind him.
They punted on interior defensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
Good work on the whole, with interior defensive lineman the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 3 they get the face of the franchise. A clean fit for the roster.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Kiran Amegadjie. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Xavier Worthy at the 68th pick is money in the bank, a wide receiver taken below his worth. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Marshawn Kneeland in the 82nd overall pick is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A real head-scratcher, Dallin Holker in No. 113 is miles ahead of his ranking. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Chau Smith-Wade at the Round 4 slot is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. A minor need, but a need all the same.
A straight-up fair deal on Tykee Smith at pick No. 147, value and slot in agreement. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A slide stopped in Round 6, Pick 7, with Luke McCaffrey worth more than the price. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They barely believed it either: Jha'Quan Jackson still on the board at the 229th pick. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.