B
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Martinez fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.
by JMorgan ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 5 steals
· 1 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Patriots watched Damien Martinez slide 89 picks past his grade and did not hesitate.
Hayes has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend.
The interior defensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
Solid rather than spectacular, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Pick-by-Pick
Will Campbell at the 9th pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. It fills a real need, too.
Mykel Williams in pick 38 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Darien Porter. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Cam Skattebo in the Round 4 slot. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
You do not let a wide receiver like Savion Williams reach No. 144 and blink. They did not. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Taking Malachi Moore in the 161st overall pick is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Nick Nash in slot 217 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A big swing on Dayon Hayes at pick No. 220, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Damien Martinez at No. 238 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.