The Patriots spent real capital to be 82 picks early on Dante Dowdell, and the board is going to hold them to it. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.

On value alone, Slaughter makes the weekend a net positive. The edge rusher hole is the one line item this class does not answer.

On the needs board they went 7 of 8, with wide receiver the one that mattered most.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.