A
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Rakestraw Jr. fall and pounced. Final grade: A.
by Brop9404 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 8 steals
· 0 reaches
Call it larceny. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. sat on the board until the 137th pick, and the Patriots did not need to be asked twice. One of the weekend's best, top to bottom, and a A to show for it.
The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
In the end it comes back to Marvin Harrison Jr., and a haul good enough to build on right away.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a weapon on the perimeter at a price that makes it sweeter. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In Round 1, Pick 26 they get a blindside protector, outstanding value to boot.
Brian Thomas Jr. in the 46th pick should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Patrick Paul at the 68th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Ladd McConkey in slot 103 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They will replay Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at pick 137 for years; that is how good the value is. A minor itch, scratched.
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Kitan Oladapo in pick No. 180, plain and simple. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Cody Schrader in No. 193 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A need, and now a little less of one.
Ty'Ron Hopper at Round 7, Pick 11 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.