After selecting a kicker earlier on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots also added a long snapper. With the 251st overall pick in Round 7, they drafted Julian Ashby out of Vanderbilt.

Let’s grade the pick.

Instant grade: Patriots draft Julian Ashby 251st overall

Bernd: Joe Cardona, the lone holdover from the dynasty era, is coming off arguably the bet season of his career and yet the Patriots felt the need to draft a long snapper late in the seventh round.

A curious pick given the circumstances, but it will be interesting to see how Ashby performs. | Grade: C-

Brian: Unless the Patriots are worried about the future of Joe Cardona, or moving on from the veteran, drafting a long snapper is not the ideal use of draft capital even in the seventh round. | Grade: D+

Matt: Joe Cardona has been a good long-snapper for a long time, but Mike Vrabel seems intent on replacing every captain from the 2024 team. I won’t profess to have expert knowledge on the position, but Dane Brugler’s The Beast has him rated as the 5th best player at the position. I don’t understand it. | Grade: D

Pat: I understand that the seventh round is really just a place to get guys that you want as a UDFA, but I think there are players on the board that could help the Patriots. Instead, they go for a long snapper. Joe Cardona is a leader, and I hate taking his replacement here. | Grade: F

The Patriots’ final draft pick of this year’s draft — and the draft as a whole — will come at No. 257 in the seventh round.

What do you think about this draft pick, though? Do you like it? Do you not? Please head to the comment section to discuss.