A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Thornton Jr. from sliding. Grade: A-.
by WIZE ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
You build a draft on nights like this. Dont'e Thornton Jr. had no business being available in pick 217, and the Patriots did the only sane thing and turned in the card.
They are betting Higgins proves the room right and everyone else wrong. The phones were where this weekend was really won. For all the activity, interior defensive lineman went untouched, which is hard to explain.
Add it up and this is about as clean as a draft weekend gets.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 17 they get a mismatch in the passing game at fair value. A real need, handled.
They reached into another round for Jayden Higgins, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
By-the-book stuff, Josaiah Stewart at Round 2, Pick 17 squarely in line with his ranking. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Quinshon Judkins in pick 69 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
No edge and no loss on Ozzy Trapilo in the 77th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Anthony Belton at the 106th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Cody Simon at pick No. 144 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A minor itch, scratched.
Dont'e Thornton Jr. in the Round 7 slot should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
The board had Caleb Ransaw higher than the 220th pick, and the safety fell to them anyway. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Marcus Yarns in pick 238 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. The roster fit checks out.