A-
New England Patriots
Nobody dealt better than the Patriots this weekend: A-.
by ZS ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 2 steals
· 2 reaches
The Patriots ran the phones like sharks, prying loose value on deal after deal until the ledger was lopsided.
The Johnson reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. The interior defensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
Bottom line, with Jared Verse leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 11 they get a cornerstone up front. A clean fit for the roster.
In the 23rd pick they get a quarterback's worst nightmare, and a steal at that. The biggest hole, addressed.
A clean, defensible pick in pick No. 34 with a little surplus value in J.J. McCarthy. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They paid sticker price for Patrick Paul in Round 3, Pick 4, and that is fine. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A wild overpay on Theo Johnson in the Round 4 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It fills a real need, too.
Khyree Jackson slid further than he should have, and the 108th overall pick is lovely value for the cornerback. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Nothing to complain about; Christian Jones went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. A need, and now a little less of one.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Cornelius Johnson this early at pick 167. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.