B-
New England Patriots
Daniels is the plan now, and the Patriots grade out a B-.
by Sean ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 0 steals
· 4 reaches
After circling the position for what felt like forever, the Patriots committed. Jayden Daniels is the quarterback now, and the roster gets built to his timeline. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
Reaching for Okie-Anoma left real value on the table behind him. The interior defensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. On the needs board they went 4 of 8, with edge rusher the one that mattered most.
Almost all the early capital went to that side of the ball.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick 3 they get their guy under center for the next decade. A clean fit for the roster.
A market-rate wide receiver, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Xavier Legette. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
No edge and no loss on Patrick Paul in Round 3, Pick 4; it is a wash and a sensible one. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
A tidy little value on Brenden Rice in the 103rd pick, a step better than break-even. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Value said wait; Marist Liufau in pick No. 137 says they were not listening. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Joe Milton III at No. 180 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
They went early on Jaylan Ford in slot 193, and the value did not follow. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Eyabi Okie-Anoma at the Round 7 slot is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.