B-
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Thornton Jr. from sliding. Grade: B-.
by GME3D ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 0 reaches
The Patriots did not reach, did not trade up, did not blink. They just waited, and Dont'e Thornton Jr. fell into the 220th pick.
That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. They left with wide receiver solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 9th overall pick they get an anchor for the offensive line. A real need, handled.
In the 27th pick they get a difference-maker at receiver, and a steal at that. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
They let Jalon Walker come to them and pounced at the Round 2 slot. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
By-the-book stuff, Tate Ratledge at Round 3, Pick 5 squarely in line with his ranking. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
No drama and no debate, Raheim Sanders went about where he belonged in No. 144. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Somehow Dont'e Thornton Jr. was still sitting there in pick 220, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A safety of that caliber at slot 238 is the definition of value, full stop. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.