B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots checked most of the boxes and earned a B-.
by Jinx ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The Dayon Hayes selection is the head-turner. The Patriots reached 77 spots for him, and it will define how this weekend is remembered.
Landing Mafah that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. For all the activity, quarterback went untouched, which is hard to explain.
They went 6 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for. The back end got a real overhaul.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 4 they get a potential shutdown corner. More want than need.
They reached into another round for Alfred Collins, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Ozzy Trapilo at the 69th overall pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. A need, and now a little less of one.
By-the-book stuff, Isaiah Bond at Round 3, Pick 13 squarely in line with his ranking. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A straight-up fair deal on Smael Mondon Jr. at slot 106, value and slot in agreement. A minor itch, scratched.
Emery Jones Jr. at the 144th pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A top-tier running back at a bargain, Phil Mafah in No. 217, plain and simple. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They talked themselves into Dayon Hayes at slot 220, and the board did not agree. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
The board fumbled Jordan Hancock all the way to the Round 7 slot, and they scooped it up. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.