B+
New England Patriots
The Patriots let Mondon Jr. fall and pounced. Final grade: B+.
by Biggs7079 ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 10 picks
· 7 steals
· 0 reaches
The board owed the Patriots one, and it paid up: Smael Mondon Jr., the No. 110 name on the board, sitting there at the 219th overall pick like a gift left on the doorstep.
They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own. They will regret leaving safety for another day if the season turns on it.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but safety.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 14 they get a quarterback's worst nightmare at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
A tidy bit of business in the 38th pick, where Derrick Harmon graded well above the range. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Taking Tyler Warren in pick No. 45 is close to grand larceny; a tight end that good had no business lasting this long. It fills a real need, too.
They barely believed it either: Jihaad Campbell still on the board at No. 69. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
A running back of that caliber at slot 77 is the definition of value, full stop. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Savion Williams in the 105th overall pick. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Jared Wilson in the Round 5 slot is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Smael Mondon Jr. at pick 219 is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
Somehow Ryan Fitzgerald was still sitting there in slot 222, and they pounced on premier specialist value. Stacking talent where they were already deep.
Clay Webb in the Round 7 slot is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.