B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Gordon II fall into their laps, and walked away with a B-.
by Darkknightcole ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 6 steals
· 1 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Patriots watched Ollie Gordon II slide 89 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. They moved the roster forward and banked a B- for it.
They punted on interior defensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. If Campbell pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. On the needs board they went 6 of 8, with edge rusher the one that mattered most.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 4 they get a plug-and-play piece up front, a steep price for the projection. A clean fit for the roster.
Isaiah Bond in the Round 2 slot is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Circle this one: James Pearce Jr. at the 68th pick is a fall that decides a draft. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at Round 3, Pick 19 is the definition of value, full stop. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Steal is underselling it; Smael Mondon Jr. at pick No. 105 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
The board fumbled Billy Bowman Jr. all the way to the 142nd overall pick, and they scooped it up. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Jake Slaughter in slot 220 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Gunnar Helm in pick 223 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They robbed the room for Ollie Gordon II here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.