B-
New England Patriots
A solid, sensible weekend for the Patriots: B-.
by Aj26glaze ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 2 steals
· 3 reaches
Everything else got attention, and interior defensive lineman got none. That is a strange way for the Patriots to leave a draft. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
The Hadden pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged. Every board in the league had Harrell lower, and that gap is the story. A small leak at the table, if not a fatal one.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with edge rusher chief among the fixes.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 11th pick they get a difference-maker at receiver at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In the Round 1 slot they get a plug-and-play piece up front. A clean fit for the roster.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Bo Nix in Round 2, Pick 2. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Cade Stover at slot 68 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Matt Goncalves in pick No. 103 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A conviction pick on Luke McCaffrey at pick 137 that the board grades a round light. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
A slide stopped in No. 177, with Dillon Johnson worth more than the price. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Kamal Hadden slipping to the 180th overall pick is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A premium they did not need to pay, Jaylen Harrell a notch or two before his time. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A straight-up fair deal on Trevin Wallace at the Round 7 slot, value and slot in agreement. A minor need, but a need all the same.