B
New England Patriots
McCarthy is the Patriots' new face under center. Grade: B.
by TheGodfather ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 3 reaches
The war room fell hard for Will Putnam, and it showed at Round 7, Pick 9: 102 picks ahead of a board that had other ideas. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B.
J.J. McCarthy gives the offense a face and a plan, and the grade leans heavily on whether he hits. The phones were where this weekend was really won.
A whole weekend of picks and edge rusher is somehow still a want. The Smith pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
The Smith pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots still on the board.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
No drama and no debate, Olumuyiwa Fashanu went about where he belonged in No. 6. The roster fit checks out.
In pick 16 they get a franchise quarterback, a steep price for the projection.
A straight-up fair deal on Tyler Guyton at pick No. 39, value and slot in agreement. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A premium they did not need to pay, Malachi Corley a notch or two before his time. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
The eyebrow-raiser of the weekend. They went DT-EDGE with Maason Smith while clear needs at edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots sat open.
Kamal Hadden at the 136th pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Luke McCaffrey in Round 5, Pick 4 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A market-rate tight end, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Trey Knox. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Will Putnam in slot 229, miles early. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.