B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots won the night they stopped Higgins from sliding. Grade: B+.
by HM ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 7 picks
· 4 steals
· 1 reaches
You build a draft on nights like this. Jay Higgins had no business being available in slot 220, and the Patriots did the only sane thing and turned in the card.
The Badger reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th overall pick they get a lockdown presence outside. Need was not the driver here.
In slot 12 they get a workhorse for the backfield, outstanding value to boot. A real need, handled.
No drama and no debate, Tate Ratledge went about where he belonged in pick 69. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A top-tier linebacker at a bargain, Carson Schwesinger in the Round 5 slot, plain and simple. A minor itch, scratched.
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Hayden Conner at the 217th pick is the proof. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A linebacker of that caliber at pick No. 220 is the definition of value, full stop. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.
Elijhah Badger at Round 7, Pick 22 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.