B-
New England Patriots
Grand theft in the 222nd pick: the Patriots steal Strong and grade out a B-.
by Bakstars ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
The Patriots did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Dorian Strong fell into pick 222. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.
They will need Ezeiruaku to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. They will regret leaving safety for another day if the season turns on it.
Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job. Nothing gained and nothing lost at the table.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th pick they get a three-down runner at fair value. A real need, handled.
A wild overpay on Donovan Ezeiruaku in the Round 2 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A slide stopped in the 69th overall pick, with Elic Ayomanor worth more than the price. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
By-the-book stuff, Barrett Carter at pick No. 77 squarely in line with his ranking. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Kyle McCord in No. 105 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Somehow Joshua Farmer was still sitting there in slot 145, and they pounced on premier interior defensive lineman value. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
A cornerback of that caliber at Round 7, Pick 4 is the definition of value, full stop. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
No drama and no debate, Clay Webb went about where he belonged in pick 240. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.