A
New England Patriots
The Patriots let McConkey fall and pounced. Final grade: A.
by Pat4082 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 15 picks
· 13 steals
· 0 reaches
Call it larceny. Ladd McConkey sat on the board until the 67th pick, and the Patriots did not need to be asked twice. The sum of the weekend is a deserved A.
They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. The Patriots clearly valued win-now help, adding bodies who have done it before.
They went 5 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
Trust the process, because this time the process plainly worked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 21st pick they get an anchor for the offensive line, outstanding value to boot. A clean fit for the roster.
Nice patience on Amarius Mims, who had no business lasting to the 34th overall pick. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Troy Franklin is a better player than Round 2, Pick 3 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A quiet steal in pick No. 36: Brian Thomas Jr. for less than the market said. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
The board fumbled Quinyon Mitchell all the way to No. 58, and they scooped it up. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Steal is underselling it; Ladd McConkey at pick 67 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A top-tier wide receiver at a bargain, Devontez Walker in the Round 3 slot, plain and simple. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Taking Jonathon Brooks in slot 78 is close to grand larceny; a running back that good had no business lasting this long. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Fair-plus on Braden Fiske, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A tidy bit of business in slot 103, where Bucky Irving graded well above the range. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Circle this one: Javon Foster at pick 152 is a fall that decides a draft. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Jordan Travis in the 159th pick is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. The roster fit checks out.
They did well to land Jaylan Ford in No. 182, just ahead of his grade. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Omar Speights at the Round 7 slot is the proof. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Darius Muasau at Round 7, Pick 12 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.