C+
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Harden from sliding. Grade: C+.
by SD ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 1 reaches
This is the pick they will still be bragging about in July: Myles Harden, the No. 209 name on the board, stolen at the 231st pick.
They covered a lot of ground and still skipped safety, which is a strange place to end up. They will need Gray to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job. They gave back a little on the phones for the right to move.
Bottom line, the swing picks will decide whether this ages well.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 11th overall pick they get a bendy edge with upside. The biggest hole, addressed.
In No. 23 they get a difference-maker at receiver at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Bo Nix in pick No. 34 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
No edge and no loss on Patrick Paul in slot 68; it is a wash and a sensible one. A need, and now a little less of one.
Cedric Gray at the 103rd pick is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
By-the-book stuff, Kalen King at the Round 5 slot squarely in line with his ranking. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Fabien Lovett in pick 180 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Tahj Washington in Round 6, Pick 18. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Myles Harden at pick 231 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.