B-
New England Patriots
Quarterback settled, Maye in the fold, and a B- for the Patriots.
by Jon-Luke B ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 4 reaches
Start where it matters. The Patriots took Drake Maye to run the offense for the next decade, and every other decision this weekend bends around that one.
If Suamataia pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through interior defensive lineman.
The Smith pick is the one they will point to when this weekend is judged.
A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.
Pick-by-Pick
By-the-book stuff, Drake Maye at pick 3 squarely in line with his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
Kingsley Suamataia at No. 34 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
No edge and no loss on Ja'Lynn Polk in Round 3, Pick 4; it is a wash and a sensible one. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
They talked themselves into Ben Sinnott at pick No. 103, and the board did not agree. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
The board had cheaper options than Justin Eboigbe at the 137th overall pick, and it noticed. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Tykee Smith at the 180th pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
The board had Cornelius Johnson higher than slot 199, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Sheridan Jones in the Round 7 slot. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Rasheen Ali in Round 7, Pick 19 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.