A
New England Patriots
Best value of the weekend goes to the Patriots for Foster: A.
by Lewi ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 12 picks
· 7 steals
· 0 reaches
Call it larceny. Javon Foster sat on the board until the Round 6 slot, and the Patriots did not need to be asked twice. A near-flawless weekend of work, and a A to cap it.
Every deal seemed to tilt their way, which is not luck. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped interior defensive lineman, which is a strange place to end up.
The Patriots paired the rookies with proven help, Tee Higgins leading the way. Job largely done: edge rusher settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Add it up and few war rooms did better this weekend, Jared Verse and all.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 18 they get a true top target, outstanding value to boot. Exactly the need they had to hit.
In pick 30 they get a problem off the edge, and a steal at that. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A reasonable price with a little left over, J.J. McCarthy in the 34th pick. It fills a real need, too.
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jeremiah Trotter Jr.. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Andru Phillips is a better player than the 90th overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
No drama and no debate, Will Shipley went about where he belonged in the Round 4 slot. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Nice patience on Brenden Rice, who had no business lasting to No. 130. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Jared Wiley at Round 5, Pick 1 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They robbed the room for Elijah Jones here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Steal is underselling it; Javon Foster at the 180th pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. The roster fit checks out.
A clean, defensible pick in pick 193 with a little surplus value in Curtis Jacobs. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
They will replay Rasheen Ali at pick No. 231 for years; that is how good the value is. It patches a soft spot without any drama.