B
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Howard fall and pounced. Final grade: B.
by EMANPATSFAN ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 6 steals
· 1 reaches
When a board-topper like Will Howard slides to Round 7, Pick 1, you do not overthink it, and the Patriots did not. No fireworks, but a solid B.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped offensive lineman, which is a strange place to end up. The cost of the Smith reach is exactly the players who went right after him.
They went 7 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for. The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get juice off the edge. The biggest hole, addressed.
They robbed the room for Tyler Warren here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. A need, and now a little less of one.
Jack Bech at No. 69 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Quinshon Judkins slipping to Round 3, Pick 13 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
You do not let a safety like Andrew Mukuba reach pick No. 106 and blink. They did not. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They let Darius Alexander come to them and pounced at the 144th pick. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Will Howard in slot 217 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The board fumbled Woody Marks all the way to pick 220, and they scooped it up. It fills a real need, too.
A premium they did not need to pay, Jaylin Smith a notch or two before his time. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.