B+
New England Patriots
A masterclass at the trade table lands the Patriots a B+.
by Yves ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 4 steals
· 5 reaches
The Patriots put a flag in the ground for Anthony Belton, 140 picks before anyone else would have, and the value took the hit. More right than wrong, and a B+ to match.
On value alone, Skattebo makes the weekend a net positive. The trade ledger is the best part of the whole weekend.
The wide receiver hole is the one line item this class does not answer.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but wide receiver.
Pick-by-Pick
They did well to land Derrick Harmon in pick No. 38, just ahead of his grade. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Donovan Ezeiruaku this early at Round 2, Pick 13. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Circle this one: Tyler Warren at the Round 2 slot is a fall that decides a draft. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Emery Jones Jr. in pick 66 is a reach so steep the board needed a second look to believe it. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A slide stopped in No. 69, with Dylan Fairchild worth more than the price. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Danny Stutsman at the 83rd pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
Anthony Belton at the 105th overall pick is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. The roster fit checks out.
Nick Nash at pick 140 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
This one needs a full-page explanation: Nohl Williams in Round 7, Pick 5, miles early. It adds depth where they could use a little.
A quiet steal in slot 222: Jonah Monheim for less than the market said. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Somehow Cam Skattebo was still sitting there in No. 237, and they pounced on premier running back value. It fills a real need, too.