B-
New England Patriots
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Patriots a B-.
by Rob ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 2 steals
· 4 reaches
They will call it conviction in the building and a reach everywhere else: Josiah Ezirim, 99 picks early at slot 193.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. Landing Jones that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.
Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 3 of 8 of the wish list covered. Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
No edge and no loss on Joe Alt in the 3rd pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A clean, defensible pick in the Round 2 slot with a little surplus value in J.J. McCarthy. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A real head-scratcher, Christian Mahogany in pick No. 68 is miles ahead of his ranking. The roster fit checks out.
They liked Johnny Wilson enough to skip the value, taking him in the 112th overall pick. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Steal is underselling it; Elijah Jones at Round 5, Pick 1 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Luke McCaffrey in slot 148 is fair value, right on his grade. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Value said wait; Ryan Flournoy in pick No. 180 says they were not listening. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Josiah Ezirim in slot 193 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Jordan Magee in the 231st overall pick is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.