B
New England Patriots
A passer of the future in McCarthy, and a B, for the Patriots.
by the cat ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 1 steals
· 2 reaches
After circling the position for what felt like forever, the Patriots committed. J.J. McCarthy is the quarterback now, and the roster gets built to his timeline. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B.
Spending an early pick on cornerback with edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
Reaching for Legette left real value on the table behind him.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 17 they get their guy under center for the next decade, though they paid up to get him.
Kool-Aid McKinstry in slot 34 lands just on the right side of the ledger. A minor itch, scratched.
Roman Wilson in the Round 2 slot is fair value, right on his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Value said wait; Xavier Legette in the 49th overall pick says they were not listening. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Patrick Paul at Round 3, Pick 4 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Max Melton adds a cornerback and leaves edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots untouched.
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Zak Zinter. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
The needs board was loud and they turned it down, spending the 104th pick on Cam Hart with edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots unsolved.
Nothing to complain about; Audric Estime went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.