A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots left with their quarterback, and a A- to match.
by pdub ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
They finally answered the question that shadows every other one. J.J. McCarthy is the Patriots' quarterback, full stop. It holds up to a second look, which is why it earns the A-.
Every board in the league had Magee lower, and that gap is the story. They banked enough surplus on Polk to cover a lot of smaller sins.
The phones were where this weekend was really won. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
Bottom line, with J.J. McCarthy leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 20 they get a long-term answer under center at fair value.
The board had Ladd McConkey higher than the 45th overall pick, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Good price on Javon Bullard in the 59th pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Nothing to complain about; T.J. Tampa went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Ray Davis at Round 3, Pick 37 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They talked themselves into Jordan Magee at No. 102, and the board did not agree. A minor need, but a need all the same.
They barely believed it either: Ja'Lynn Polk still on the board at slot 106. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They liked Caedan Wallace enough to skip the value, taking him in the Round 4 slot. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Jaheim Bell at pick 154 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A need, and now a little less of one.
KT Leveston slid further than he should have, and No. 231 is lovely value for the offensive lineman. It patches a soft spot without any drama.