B-
New England Patriots
Larceny in slot 219 lands the Patriots a B-, Martinez and all.
by jsardi12 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 4 reaches
When a board-topper like Damien Martinez slides to the 219th overall pick, you do not overthink it, and the Patriots did not. The bottom line is a respectable B-.
The Ouzts pick is the one the value grade keeps tripping over. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. They went 5 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 4 they get a press-man option on the boundary at fair value.
Aireontae Ersery at No. 38 is a conviction pick that outran the value. It fills a real need, too.
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Xavier Watts in the Round 3 slot, plain and simple. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Ozzy Trapilo at pick 77 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A reach on Anthony Belton in the 105th pick; the board had better options right there. The roster fit checks out.
Cody Simon is a better player than Round 5, Pick 6 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. It adds depth where they could use a little.
The board fumbled Damien Martinez all the way to slot 219, and they scooped it up. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Robbie Ouzts in the 222nd overall pick is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Circle this one: Dont'e Thornton Jr. at the 240th pick is a fall that decides a draft. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.