B-
New England Patriots
Grand theft in the 235th overall pick: the Patriots steal McCord and grade out a B-.
by EMANPATSFAN ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 5 steals
· 1 reaches
The Patriots spent the weekend waiting on one name, and it fell: Kyle McCord, the No. 201 name on the board, in pick 235.
The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer. They are betting Ferguson proves the room right and everyone else wrong. The roster is better shaped than it was, with wide receiver chief among the fixes.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
By-the-book stuff, Kelvin Banks Jr. at the Round 1 slot squarely in line with his ranking. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Walter Nolen at No. 36 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Good price on Kaleb Johnson in pick No. 67, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. It fills a real need, too.
They took Smael Mondon Jr. at par in the 93rd pick, which is nothing to complain about. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Maxwell Hairston is a better player than the 107th overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
You do not let a safety like Andrew Mukuba reach pick 139 and blink. They did not. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Ricky White III at Round 6, Pick 6 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
They paid a round early for Terrance Ferguson in slot 217, more than the board wanted. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
PJ Williams at the 220th overall pick is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The board fumbled Kyle McCord all the way to Round 7, Pick 21, and they scooped it up. It patches a soft spot without any drama.