A
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Mafah from sliding. Grade: A.
by PoppaShart ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 7 steals
· 0 reaches
The rest of the league will want that one back. Phil Mafah tumbling to the Patriots in slot 238 is a gift they did not have to think twice about. It holds up to a second look, which is why it earns the A.
The dealing alone would carry a lesser class. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
The hoard sets up next April more than it helps this September. Safety is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
Bottom line, with TreVeyon Henderson leading the way, this is a class that should pay off fast and rarely be regretted.
Pick-by-Pick
No edge and no loss on TreVeyon Henderson in the 55th overall pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
A tidy bit of business in No. 69, where Marcus Mbow graded well above the range. A need, and now a little less of one.
A slide stopped in slot 77, with Tate Ratledge worth more than the price. The roster fit checks out.
Carson Schwesinger in Round 3, Pick 22 lands just on the right side of the ledger. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
A top-tier cornerback at a bargain, Maxwell Hairston in the 106th pick, plain and simple. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Taking Malachi Moore in pick No. 159 is close to grand larceny; a safety that good had no business lasting this long. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Somehow Jack Kiser was still sitting there in pick 217, and they pounced on premier linebacker value. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.
Luke Lachey at the Round 7 slot is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. It fills a real need, too.
Phil Mafah in slot 238 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It patches a soft spot without any drama.