I'm going to give this draft a C for now. C as in cautiously optimistic. If this draft were judged on round 1 alone, the grade would be a lot lower, but the Patriots did address more needs as the draft progressed particularly in rounds 2, 3, and 4.
We played it too safe with Cole Strange, a guy who is more of a 2nd round talent and a guard, to take him in the 1st. In general you don't take guards in the first because they're just not a premium position and quality guards can be found later.
Tyquan Thornton is a boom or bust pick, he has the potential to be great, or he could become the next Bethel Johnson. The speed is real, 4.28 40 is RARE and can truly stretch a defense, but can he grasp our offense and become that #1 outside threat that we clearly craved when we paid Agholor the big free agent dollars? Thornton was also initially ranked by a lot of pundits and draftniks in the 4th round, however the immediate run of receivers tells me that Thornton could have gone in the 2nd if we waited longer, although maybe not necessarily at #50.
Marcus Jones is perhaps the best value pick of the draft. He combines the ability to play slot corner against the quickest guys in the NFL along with an electric ability as both kick and punt returner that some analysts have compared to the likes of Devin Hester/Dante Hall. Whether he's our nickel corner or a ST ace, I feel Marcus Jones will find a way to contribute so this is probably my least worried about pick and in the 3rd round the value felt spot on.
As for the other picks of note, Pierre Strong also gives us another explosive speedy threat from the HB position with his 4.37 40, the big question remains, will he get enough playing time as a rookie when our RB corps is already stacked with Harris, White, and Stevenson?
I didn't like spending a 4th round pick on a QB when other needs could have been addressed. I didn't like that we drafted a 2nd RB who is likely going to get cut during training camp unless he turns out to be a Bolden-level special teamer. I didn't like that we didn't address DT earlier and we didn't draft a single linebacker when our LBs either proved too slow or unable to exhibit proper tackling against the Bills in both blowout losses last year.
So there is potential to have a decent draft class, especially if say at least 3 of these guys pan out as starter level players. But it could end up being a very poor one, especially if Tyquan Thornton busts, and then the only guys to stick to the roster are Strange and Marcus Jones. Don't even talk to me if Strange busts. That would be awful. So a C overall I feel is a fair grade.
The difference between this draft class and 2021 is like Night and Day. Most likely I feel the reasons is the person who stacked the draft board. In 2021 the Pats seemed much more aware of how our 'guys' were regarded vs other players available at the time taken. In 2022 it felt like Groh struggled to convey this relative 'draft value' or 'draft consensus' awareness and thus we ended up making several 'reach' picks, when a little extra patience would have yielded better value overall. In the 2022 draft the Pats seemed oblivious to the fact that many regarded Strange as a 3rd round or later pick, and was calculated at a 93% chance to last until pick 54. This tied their hands and likely cost us a player at a 'premium position' and G is definitely not a premium draft position.
I will conclude that for the most part, the Patriots did address positions of need, they just reached for these 'need' positions earlier than we would have liked. In the end results are what matters. Let's see what these players can do. If they work out, then it was a great draft class even with all the reaching, if these guys turn out worse than the options that were taken after them, oh boy it's gonna be the return of N'Keal Harry all over again but even worse because so many of these 2022 picks were considered 'reaches' by consensus of the media/draft analysts.
