D+
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Jackson fall and pounced. Final grade: D+.
by TheGodfather ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 1 reaches
You can lose a draft before you make a pick. The Patriots did it at the trade table, overpaying to chase players the board did not price nearly as high.
For all the activity, interior defensive lineman went untouched, which is hard to explain. The Knox reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. The Jackson steal is the beam this whole class leans on.
Add it up and it is a weekend the front office will hope everyone forgets, interior defensive lineman very much included.
Pick-by-Pick
By-the-book stuff, Adonai Mitchell at the 34th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Edgerrin Cooper in the 36th pick is fair value, right on his grade. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Value with a capital V on Kingsley Suamataia in pick No. 67, a genuine coup. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
They paid sticker price for Xavier Legette in the Round 3 slot, and that is fine. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Steal is underselling it; Khyree Jackson at No. 104 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Nelson Ceaser at Round 4, Pick 36 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They took Michael Pratt at par in Round 5, Pick 2, which is nothing to complain about. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Nice patience on Kamal Hadden, who had no business lasting to pick No. 182. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
A conviction pick on Trey Knox at pick 229 that the board grades a round light. The roster fit checks out.