A
New England Patriots
The Patriots cashed the board's mistake on Allen: A.
by patricksiska ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The trade table was a mismatch, and the Patriots were on the right end of it, hauling in a fortune in surplus value. This is how you run a draft, and the A reflects it.
They will answer for taking S-EDGE early while edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots went begging. Whatever else happened, they won the night they took Allen.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up. The cost of the Hunt reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
Bottom line, they left the weekend a clearly better team, and they earned every bit of it.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 12th overall pick they get a true top target at a price that makes it sweeter. Exactly the need they had to hit.
J.J. McCarthy in slot 34 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Brenden Rice in pick No. 68 is fair value, right on his grade. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They did well to land Mason McCormick in the 104th pick, just ahead of his grade. A need, and now a little less of one.
Blake Fisher is a better player than No. 112 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Jalyx Hunt adds a S-EDGE and leaves edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots untouched.
Nice patience on Jarrian Jones, who had no business lasting to Round 4, Pick 36. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Braelon Allen at the 182nd overall pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They took Erick All at par in the 229th pick, which is nothing to complain about. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.