Grade the Patriots Draft: Instant Reaction

[manxman2601]

He’s certainly not faster than D McC.

He is by 2/100. Mccourty ran a 4.48 at the combine and didn't run at his pro day.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

D McC was faster on the field than his timed combine 40 time. I believe he has been timed at 22 mph on a pick six, and it was the fastest time registered of that specific year in the NFL. And he was no spring chicken at the time, he was 31. He had excellent speed.

“In 2018, Devin McCourty reached a top speed of 22.05 mph on an interception return, making him the fastest ball carrier of the year, according to Next Gen Stats. This speed was achieved on a 84-yard interception return touchdown in Week 8, reports ESPN and The Boston Globe. ”

McCourty was a Pro Bowler at CB AND Safety. Second team All-Pro as a rookie. The only thing Woodson has on him is he’s bigger.

I reported the numbers, not accolades or emotions. I posted NFL.com reliable combine testing that says Woodson is taller, stronger, and faster.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Campbell, farms feel like day 1 starters. Farms.. he seems like the real deal at DT.. saying he wants to bring back the old NE patriots. Like Campbell he will come in with a chip on his shoulder.

Man, if you go through the list its really not crazy to say that this draft could net 9 regular contributors by 2026 if you count LS as one. Of the 11 Thats how many have a pretty decent chance to hit as at least as solid depth while 2 are pure projects. Of course odds are against it historically speaking but it wouldn’t shock me at all with this class.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As much as I loved the players we drafted, and I really do, the process impressed me just as much:

1. They clearly stuck to their board. No reaches, by and large, they let the draft come to them. No panic trading up, particularly from 69 where we all thought a trade up to get either Williams or Noel was necessary. In the end both ended up being there at 69.

2. BPA. - Aside from possibly the Will Campbell pick, and let's face it LT was such a huge need it needed to be addressed, they did appear to go BPA. They didn't need to go RB at 38, Farmer and Swinson were arguably the best players on their board when they were picked and Kyle Williams was considered by some a second round pick.

3. The trades. - They traded back and still got Jared Wilson, They traded up to the top of a mini DT run and got the highest graded DT at the time. They turned one 7th rounder into two. They picked up a decent 2026 pick.

4. The UDFAs. - Even at this early stage I think Lan Larison and CJ Dippre are near certainties to make the final roster. Efton Chism may end up a PS squad player but he has the talent to challenge Pop Douglas for the slot receiver role. Then there's the QB, who gets the first shot to end up as QB3 and the FB who could win a position which makes 5 UDFAs who could conceivably make the final roster.

Sure you can nitpick here or there. Kyle Williams vs Jaylin Noel will be an interesting comparison to make in future years. Not drafting Tory Horton was an opportunity missed for me. Did we do enough at backup OT? But overall, I thought it was an almost flawless draft process. As someone who loves draft scouting, under BB, it almost felt like a waste of time. After the last three days, it feels like a worthwhile exercise.

Agree. I'm not as knowledgeable about the players and the scouting process as you and others but to me, they seemed extremely disciplined in filling the need with the player that was graded appropriately for their draft slot.

The Henderson pick is really the only one which I was like, "woa" in a good way. They knew the needed game breakers and the got one. Gotta applaud them for that.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Not proclaiming him to be a game changer.. bit he's a guy you want to keep around.. as mentioned he's a developing young player that has upside. He's a solid 3 here. He really showed me something last season... go back and look each time Drake made a big play for a TD last season.. who was on the receiving end..

We'll disagree on Boutte call as a WR3. Moving on

 

[Clonamery]

As much as I loved the players we drafted, and I really do, the process impressed me just as much:

1. They clearly stuck to their board. No reaches, by and large, they let the draft come to them. No panic trading up, particularly from 69 where we all thought a trade up to get either Williams or Noel was necessary. In the end both ended up being there at 69.

2. BPA. - Aside from possibly the Will Campbell pick, and let's face it LT was such a huge need it needed to be addressed, they did appear to go BPA. They didn't need to go RB at 38, Farmer and Swinson were arguably the best players on their board when they were picked and Kyle Williams was considered by some a second round pick.

3. The trades. - They traded back and still got Jared Wilson, They traded up to the top of a mini DT run and got the highest graded DT at the time. They turned one 7th rounder into two. They picked up a decent 2026 pick.

4. The UDFAs. - Even at this early stage I think Lan Larison and CJ Dippre are near certainties to make the final roster. Efton Chism may end up a PS squad player but he has the talent to challenge Pop Douglas for the slot receiver role. Then there's the QB, who gets the first shot to end up as QB3 and the FB who could win a position which makes 5 UDFAs who could conceivably make the final roster.

Sure you can nitpick here or there. Kyle Williams vs Jaylin Noel will be an interesting comparison to make in future years. Not drafting Tory Horton was an opportunity missed for me. Did we do enough at backup OT? But overall, I thought it was an almost flawless draft process. As someone who loves draft scouting, under BB, it almost felt like a waste of time. After the last three days, it feels like a worthwhile exercise.

Well, much of your research investment was channeled in interpreting how Vrabel et al would base their picks on what FO said (interviews with media etc) and did (meetings, visits, All-Star games attended). You did a marvelous job at sifting the right player types.

I think in not picking Horton it might have had something to do with the WR numbers. I wonder if they actually tried to trade Bourne before or during the Draft? It was speculated a month or 2 before the Draft. IDK.

 

[Real fan 02]

Man, if you go through the list its really not crazy to say that this draft could net 9 regular contributors by 2026 if you count LS as one. Thats how many have a pretty decent chance to hit as at least as solid depth while 2 are pure projects. Of course odds are against it historically speaking but it wouldn’t shock me at all

You make a good point. What I've noticed is all the guys we got are high Character and hungry. Campbell is the day 1 starter.. I'm thinking farmer as well.. Williams I love too.. but he will likely be brung along gradually.. but will be a factor. Henderson guys so impressive he can run between the OTs and catch put the backfield. He's a weapon that will keep defenses off balance.

 

[manxman2601]

Well, much of your research investment was channeled in interpreting how Vrabel et al would base their picks on what FO said (interviews with media etc) and did (meetings, visits, All-Star games attended). You did a marvelous job at sifting the right player types.

I think in not picking Horton it might have had something to do with the WR numbers. I wonder if they actually tried to trade Bourne before or during the Draft? It was speculated a month or 2 before the Draft. IDK.

Thank you. The draft forum was a real joy this year.

 

[hornetfb85]

When most individuals (will always have those constant complainers about anything) main *****ing point is about how underwhelming our 7th rounders were, you know it was a good draft.

 

[Triumph]

2.9K views · 514 reactions | Grading the New England Patriots 2025 NFL Draft #patriots #nfldraft #nflnews | Dan Mitchell

Grading the New England Patriots 2025 NFL Draft #patriots #nfldraft #nflnews.

www.facebook.com

 

[mike_usagisan]

I would have said B, but after figuring in the free agents added as well I voted for an A.

Grading like this is obviously just a knee-jerk reaction, but there were a couple times that trade-downs resulted in a slight disappointment of missing out on what I preceived to be a better player. But on the other hand the quantity of potential upgrades cannot be overlooked.

I grade it based on how I feel afterward (since we really won't know if any of them work out for a while). I'm feeling really positive about the team and the direction it's going, and this draft lined up perfectly with those. So A for me.

 

[manxman2601]

“Largest single talent increase”

 

[Clonamery]

Thank you. The draft forum was a real joy this year.

I went to PFN this morning. You can do a 2026 Draft simulation. Pats picking 14th, Jets #2.

 

[manxman2601]

I went to PFN this morning. You can do a 2026 Draft simulation. Pats picking 14th, Jets #2.

PFF are 2026 ready too. Early mock drafts are how I do a lot of my scouting because they're a good way of learning about value and positional rankings. We're 12th on PFF with the Jets @ 4.

 

[Steve102]

Thank you. The draft forum was a real joy this year.

I appreciate all your research. It helped me find more information on players. I learned more about players all the way through the draft process from just fooling around in the draft forum and then going down the rabbit hole.

 

[maust]

Pats picking 14th, Jets #2.

Not to worry, The Jete will find a way to Jete that #2 pick up

 

[RobertWeathers]

“Largest single talent increase”

They had nowhere to go but up lol.

 

[JMC00]

A

 

[TheRainMaker]

In terms of addressing needs, they get an A. They got the assignment. Now we wait to see if they picked the right players.

 

[manxman2601]

I appreciate all your research. It helped me find more information on players. I learned more about players all the way through the draft process from just fooling around in the draft forum and then going down the rabbit hole.

You hit the nail on the head. I'm more a researcher than a scout. @BaconGrundleCandy is an excellent scout but I struggle to see prospects through a scouting lens and the scouting language leaves me cold.

Thank you. normally after a draft I feel pretty spent for a few months and don't even want to think about next years, but I'm already looking forward to next year and the draft forum camaraderie.