B
New England Patriots
Fitzgerald should have been long gone. The Patriots pounced, and earned a B.
by Hushpuppie13 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 2 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Ryan Fitzgerald at Round 7, Pick 22 is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did.
If Henderson pans out, nobody remembers the price. If not, this is the pick they hear about. That interior defensive lineman hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th overall pick they get a bendy edge with upside. Exactly the need they had to hit.
They paid sticker price for Matthew Golden in No. 38, and that is fine. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A tight end of that caliber at pick 69 is the definition of value, full stop. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Jermari Harris at pick No. 77 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Hollin Pierce. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Danny Stutsman in the Round 5 slot is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A big swing on Xzavier Henderson at slot 217, well ahead of any board in the building. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Jeffrey Bassa at the 220th pick is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Taking Ryan Fitzgerald in the 238th overall pick is close to grand larceny; a specialist that good had no business lasting this long. Stacking talent where they were already deep.