B
New England Patriots
The Patriots robbed the room for Rice. Final grade: B.
by PatrickSiska ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
Every so often the board makes a mistake, and the Patriots were there to profit. Brenden Rice, the No. 69 name on the board, should have been long gone before Round 4, Pick 3. No fireworks, but a solid B.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. The roster is better shaped than it was, with wide receiver chief among the fixes. They came away with juice, if not much beef up front.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 3rd overall pick they get a matchup problem out wide at fair value. Exactly the need they had to hit.
Bo Nix slid further than he should have, and the Round 2 slot is lovely value for the quarterback. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Taking Graham Barton in the 68th pick is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Brenden Rice in No. 103 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
The board had Jalyx Hunt higher than slot 139, and the S-EDGE fell to them anyway. The roster reasoning here is anyone's guess.
They paid sticker price for Isaiah Davis in Round 6, Pick 7, and that is fine. The roster fit checks out.
A slide stopped in pick 224, with Jawhar Jordan worth more than the price. A need, and now a little less of one.
Daequan Hardy in pick No. 232 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.