B
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Restrepo from sliding. Grade: B.
by jim D ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 8 steals
· 0 reaches
Somebody in the Round 7 slot was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Patriots sat still while Xavier Restrepo, the No. 49 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium. It does the job without flash, and the B reflects it.
For all the activity, safety went untouched, which is hard to explain. They left with edge rusher solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the safety spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 1 they get an island corner. Need was not the driver here.
Ashton Jeanty in the 36th pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The board fumbled Wyatt Milum all the way to slot 67, and they scooped it up. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Somehow Walter Nolen was still sitting there in No. 79, and they pounced on premier interior defensive lineman value. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Circle this one: Tre Harris at the 103rd overall pick is a fall that decides a draft. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Jalon Walker at the Round 5 slot is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Steal is underselling it; Josaiah Stewart at Round 7, Pick 3 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
You do not let an offensive lineman like Dylan Fairchild reach pick 220 and blink. They did not. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They will replay Xavier Restrepo at the 238th pick for years; that is how good the value is. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.