C+
New England Patriots
The Patriots cashed the board's mistake on Ford: C+.
by Sean romiza ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 16 picks
· 5 steals
· 5 reaches
The Patriots spent the weekend waiting on one name, and it fell: Jaylan Ford, the No. 196 name on the board, in the 222nd overall pick. Some smart calls, some head-scratchers, and a C+ in the wash.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through edge rusher. They are betting Stover proves the room right and everyone else wrong.
So much rides on Tyler Guyton that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 27th overall pick they get a long-term starter on the line. A clean fit for the roster.
J.J. McCarthy at Round 2, Pick 2 jumps the queue by a touch more than is comfortable. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A premium they did not need to pay, Roman Wilson a notch or two before his time. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
No drama and no debate, Patrick Paul went about where he belonged in pick 66. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A conviction pick on Cade Stover at the Round 3 slot that the board grades a round light. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Xavier Legette at No. 79 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
By-the-book stuff, Bucky Irving at slot 90 squarely in line with his ranking. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Brenden Rice in pick No. 104. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
They jumped the gun on Ben Sinnott, taking him earlier than his grade liked. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
James Williams at the Round 4 slot is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the safety. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Tommy Eichenberg at No. 136 is a conviction pick that outran the value. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Dillon Johnson slipping to the 182nd pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in pick 209 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A top-tier linebacker at a bargain, Jaylan Ford in Round 7, Pick 2, plain and simple. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
They let Tyrice Knight come to them and pounced at pick No. 229. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Jaden Crumedy in slot 237. It fits a board better than it fits this team.