D
New England Patriots
The Patriots answered their biggest question with Williams. Grade: D.
by 0987 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 14 picks
· 10 steals
· 0 reaches
The trade table was where it all came apart. The Patriots shipped out far more than they hauled back, and no amount of spin dresses up the bill. It grades a D, and the process earned it.
Caleb Williams is the bet, and the class will be judged on how it pays off. They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it.
That Hadden pick is the receipt they will wave around later. Wide receiver is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
It is a steep hill from here, and the grade knows it.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 3 they get a long-term answer under center. A real need, handled.
A quiet steal in Round 2, Pick 9: Brian Thomas Jr. for less than the market said. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
The board fumbled Jordan Morgan all the way to slot 68, and they scooped it up. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Good price on Brenden Rice in the Round 4 slot, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
No drama and no debate, Theo Johnson went about where he belonged in the 126th overall pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A linebacker of that caliber at the 137th pick is the definition of value, full stop. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Ainias Smith in pick 161 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They barely believed it either: Nehemiah Pritchett still on the board at pick No. 171. A minor itch, scratched.
Dylan Laube slipping to the 172nd pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They will replay Sione Vaki at the 180th overall pick for years; that is how good the value is. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Taking Dwight McGlothern in No. 187 is close to grand larceny; a cornerback that good had no business lasting this long. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Nothing to complain about; Tahj Washington went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, Kamal Hadden in pick No. 210, plain and simple. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
They robbed the room for Jaylan Ford here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.