The tape said wait; the Patriots did not. Grey Zabel went at No. 5, a good 27 picks before the board was ready. Fine in stretches, shaky in others: a C.

They will regret leaving edge rusher for another day if the season turns on it. Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it.

In the end, a coin-flip class: fine today, with a wide range of outcomes ahead.