B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots finally solved quarterback, and it carried them to a B+.
by irishmonk ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
The one hole that towered over the rest is filled. The Patriots spent their marquee pick on Drake Maye, and for the first time in a while there is a real answer at quarterback. Good, not great, and the B+ says as much.
Landing Oladapo that late papers over a lot of smaller sins. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped running back, which is a strange place to end up.
Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
Bottom line, more hits than misses and a roster nudged the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 3 they get a passer to set the clock by at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Taking Joe Alt in No. 34 is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The board had Jermaine Burton higher than the Round 3 slot, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Gabriel Murphy is a better player than the 103rd pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Josh Newton at Round 5, Pick 1 is the proof. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Jordan Jefferson at slot 180 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Circle this one: Kitan Oladapo at pick 193 is a fall that decides a draft. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.