A-
New England Patriots
The Patriots let McMillan fall into their laps, and walked away with a A-.
by Rob ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 6 steals
· 2 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Patriots watched Jalen McMillan slide 81 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. They executed a plan and it shows in the A-.
They won the margins on every swap, and it adds up fast. Every board in the league had McCaffrey lower, and that gap is the story.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
It is a haul that will look even better come September.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 8th pick they get a building block for the line, though they paid up to get him. A real need, handled.
Taking Olumuyiwa Fashanu in pick 34 is close to grand larceny; an offensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. A need, and now a little less of one.
By-the-book stuff, J.J. McCarthy at the 43rd overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
You do not let a wide receiver like Ladd McConkey reach pick No. 68 and blink. They did not. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
They will replay Jonathon Brooks at Round 4, Pick 4 for years; that is how good the value is. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Value said wait; Luke McCaffrey in No. 136 says they were not listening. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Ben Sinnott at the Round 5 slot is the proof. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Somehow Jalen McMillan was still sitting there in slot 182, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Steal is underselling it; Kamal Hadden at the 229th pick is a heist with the alarm still ringing. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.