Nobody else had Reuben Fatheree II anywhere near the 228th pick. The Patriots did, by 57 spots, and that gap is the whole story. Nothing here to lose sleep over; call it a B-.
If one pick saves this weekend, it is Nesbit. They will regret leaving safety for another day if the season turns on it. They left with edge rusher solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
Their trades came out a wash either way.
Good work on the whole, with safety the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.3
· Pick 3
· Will Campbell
· OT
· rank 9
In Round 1, Pick 3 they get a long-term starter on the line. A real need, handled.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Tre Harris
· WR
· rank 17
Tre Harris in pick 41 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
R3.8
· Pick 72
· Jordan Burch
· DE-EDGE
· rank 44
Circle this one: Jordan Burch at slot 72 is a fall that decides a draft. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R3.21
· Pick 85
· Jabbar Muhammad
· CB
· rank 69
The board had Jabbar Muhammad higher than the 85th overall pick, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
R4.7
· Pick 108
· Parker Brailsford
· C
· rank 117
A conviction pick on Parker Brailsford at No. 108 that the board grades a round light. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R5.8
· Pick 146
· Kyle Monangai
· RB
· rank 146
By-the-book stuff, Kyle Monangai at pick No. 146 squarely in line with his ranking. It fills a real need, too.
R7.2
· Pick 216
· Garrett Dellinger
· OG
· rank 192
Garrett Dellinger at pick 216 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R7.4
· Pick 218
· Bryson Nesbit
· TE
· rank 174
Somehow Bryson Nesbit was still sitting there in Round 7, Pick 4, and they pounced on premier tight end value. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
R7.14
· Pick 228
· Reuben Fatheree II
· OT
· rank 285
They talked themselves into Reuben Fatheree II at the Round 7 slot, and the board did not agree. A need, and now a little less of one.
R7.25
· Pick 239
· T.J. Sanders
· DT
· rank 224
T.J. Sanders is a better player than No. 239 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.