B+
New England Patriots
Larceny in the Round 5 slot lands the Patriots a B+, Mondon Jr. and all.
by owenpats ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
The Patriots spent the weekend waiting on one name, and it fell: Smael Mondon Jr., the No. 111 name on the board, in pick No. 145.
Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. Every board in the league had McLaughlin lower, and that gap is the story. For all the activity, interior defensive lineman went untouched, which is hard to explain.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but interior defensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th pick they get a disruptor off the edge at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A quiet steal in pick 38: Malaki Starks for less than the market said. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Quietly one of the better values of the day, Jayden Higgins at pick No. 86. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Nice patience on Ozzy Trapilo, who had no business lasting to No. 105. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Smael Mondon Jr. in the Round 5 slot is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
Seth McLaughlin at the 219th overall pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
By-the-book stuff, Trevor Etienne at Round 7, Pick 4 squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They went early on Jake Briningstool in slot 240, and the value did not follow. The roster fit checks out.