B
New England Patriots
The Patriots robbed the room for Sanders. Final grade: B.
by Hushpuppie13 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 5 steals
· 2 reaches
Somebody in the 222nd overall pick was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Patriots sat still while Raheim Sanders, the No. 158 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
Thornton Jr. has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. They punted on interior defensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In the Round 1 slot they get a bendy edge with upside. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Matthew Golden in the 38th pick is fair value, right on his grade. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
They will replay Aireontae Ersery at No. 69 for years; that is how good the value is. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Nothing to complain about; Maxwell Hairston went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A quiet steal in slot 105: Tez Johnson for less than the market said. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Cody Simon in pick 118 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A real head-scratcher, Dont'e Thornton Jr. in pick No. 145 is miles ahead of his ranking. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Value with a capital V on Jack Kiser in the 219th overall pick, a genuine coup. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Steal is underselling it; Raheim Sanders at pick No. 222 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Somehow Luke Lachey was still sitting there in No. 240, and they pounced on premier tight end value. It fills a real need, too.