Somebody in Round 7, Pick 3 was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Patriots sat still while Elijah Arroyo, the No. 181 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
They handed away value on the phones that the picks cannot earn back. With interior defensive lineman, safety and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on linebacker is the choice that costs them.
The interior defensive lineman spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. They will need Conerly Jr. to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it.
So much rides on Princely Umanmielen that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.12
· Pick 12
· Princely Umanmielen
· DE-EDGE
· rank 9
In slot 12 they get a quarterback's worst nightmare. The biggest hole, addressed.
R2.4
· Pick 36
· Josh Conerly Jr.
· OT
· rank 45
A conviction pick on Josh Conerly Jr. at the Round 2 slot that the board grades a round light. The roster fit checks out.
R2.14
· Pick 46
· Tyler Warren
· TE
· rank 44
Tyler Warren in pick 46 is fair value, right on his grade. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R3.1
· Pick 65
· Jihaad Campbell
· LB
· rank 40
Jihaad Campbell at pick No. 65 is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
R3.3
· Pick 67
· Jayden Higgins
· WR
· rank 76
A reach on Jayden Higgins in the 67th pick; the board had better options right there. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R3.15
· Pick 79
· Barrett Carter
· LB
· rank 83
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Barrett Carter at linebacker with interior defensive lineman, safety and other spots open.
R4.2
· Pick 103
· Luke Kandra
· OG
· rank 109
Luke Kandra in Round 4, Pick 2 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R5.1
· Pick 138
· Tahj Brooks
· RB
· rank 116
Tahj Brooks in No. 138 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R7.3
· Pick 219
· Elijah Arroyo
· TE
· rank 181
Somehow Elijah Arroyo was still sitting there in the Round 7 slot, and they pounced on premier tight end value. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R7.22
· Pick 238
· Jared Wilson
· C
· rank 204
They robbed the room for Jared Wilson here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
