B
New England Patriots
The Patriots drew a line under the quarterback search with McCarthy: B.
by sean ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 13 picks
· 3 steals
· 7 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. J.J. McCarthy is the Patriots' quarterback, full stop. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B.
The Milton III reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. The Braswell steal is the beam this whole class leans on.
The Solomon pick reads as want over need, and the roster will feel it at interior defensive lineman and running back. The interior defensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the interior defensive lineman spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 25 they get a cornerstone up front. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 27th pick they get a long-term answer under center, though the board says they badly overpaid. A real need, handled.
By-the-book stuff, Ja'Tavion Sanders at slot 34 squarely in line with his ranking. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They paid sticker price for Roman Wilson in Round 2, Pick 9, and that is fine. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
The board had cheaper options than Patrick Paul at pick 58, and it noticed. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Chris Braswell in the Round 3 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A curious use of No. 104. Interior defensive lineman and running back needed the pick; an OLB-EDGE in Javon Solomon did not.
James Williams is a better player than the 136th overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A swing that ignored the value entirely, Luke McCaffrey well ahead of where he belonged. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Joe Milton III at pick No. 168 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They paid a round early for Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in Round 6, Pick 7, more than the board wanted. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Kenny Logan Jr. at pick 229 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Value with a capital V on Ryan Cooper Jr. in the 241st pick, a genuine coup. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.