Nobody else had Jayden Higgins anywhere near the 77th pick. The Patriots did, by 71 spots, and that gap is the whole story. A near-flawless weekend of work, and a A- to cap it.

That is a linebacker worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly. They robbed the room blind at the table, and it lifts the grade on its own.

For all the activity, quarterback went untouched, which is hard to explain.

Bottom line, they left the weekend a clearly better team, and they earned every bit of it.