The Patriots are picking inside the Top-5 for the second year in a row and it turned out pretty good last time. After selecting Drake Maye at 3 last year, the Patriots are set up to give him some help this year with the #4 selection. After a shaky season that saw the rookie flash BIG potential, the Patriots then went on to Free Agency to revamp this defense with multiple key signings of starting and some superstar capable players. With very little spent on offense, the Draft looks to be the best spot for Mike Vrabel and company to give Maye the help he desperately needs.
With offense being a major priority, lets take a deeper dive into more specific needs for the team:
Offensive Needs
OT, OG, WR1, RB2
You can argue that every position besides Quarterback is of need to the Patriots. After signing Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses, the offensive line has less holes but is still in need of a LT and LG. Current starters Vederian Lowe and Cole Strange had decent third years in the league but should only be looked at as depth moving forward.
Their Patriots are stacked in B- skill positions so they are truly in need of a difference maker, specifically at WR. With 4 or 5 good receivers already on the roster, the Patriots need to truly get a #1 option or risk having another young WR be lost in the fold of this deep rotation.
Defense Needs
DT, CB3, SAF, DE2
After signing 5 or 6 starting caliber players, most of the Patriots defensive needs are at depth and backup positions. With a possible need at the interior DT spot of a Nose Tackle being the only starter need, the biggest need is better depth in their secondary including a strong Nickel corner and possibly a Safety to battle Jabrill Peppers and Marcus Epps for the FS spot.
After getting that out of the way, lets look at Three Options the Patriots could do at EACH pick in the upcoming Draft.
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Round 1: Pick 4
Travis Hunter - In the best case scenario, Carter then Ward then Sanders are picks 1-3 and Travis Hunter is on the board. Hunter is a WR/CB combo who wants to play both sides of the ball in the pros.
Hunter is one of the best athletes the NFL Draft has seen in a long time and plays at two of the biggest positions of need for the Patriots.
Will Campbell - If Hunter is not available at 4, Will Campbell will be the best fit for the Patriots even if his potential at OT is limited. Campbell has been a consensus All-American at LT for LSU and the consensus #1 O-lineman until his arm length was recorded at only 32.5 inches long which is below the NFL standards for Tackles.
Campbell's floor is a Pro Bowl level guard for the Patriots and his ceiling is a long-term OT the team desperately needs. At LSU he showed mauling run blocking ability along with good-to-great pass blocking.
Mason Graham - If Hunter isn't available and the Patriots are scared away by Campbell's arm length, the DT out of Michigan Mason Graham would also be a great fit in New England. An excellent combination of size and speed on the D-line, Graham has top experience including a National Championship and over 2 years of Starting in the Big Ten.
Graham came into the combine over 20 pounds lighter than predicted so his stock fell a bit but he is still the best DT in the best DT class maybe ever. At a position of need, Graham could align with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore to make an absolutely frighting D-line in New England.
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Round 2: Pick 38
Emeka Egbuka - From this point on I will have a WR for every selection because of the huge need. Each pick will be the player who I believe can drop to that pick and be a "steal" for the Pats.
Egbuka's stock has been dropping because of other receivers rising, not as a a reflection of his skills. Egbuka has been a consistent weapon and receiver standout at Ohio State which has quickly become Wide Receiver U. Egbuka's true versatility and toughness makes him already comparable to Demario Douglas. His true standout ability is his route running however, with one of the best route trees in the class and already better than anyone on the roster. True WR1 potential at pick #38.
Tyleik Williams - I wrote earlier how the Patriots' defensive line is coming together nicely but could use a Nose Tackle and Tyleik Williams of Ohio State could be a perfect fit. At 6'3" and 327 pounds, Williams will be a perfect middle man between Barmore and Williams, while allowing them to be true pass rushers while he swallows the run.
Williams was a standout at the combine where he showed his agility as a 320+ pounder. Tyleik is a really good nose tackle where at Ohio State, he still managed 5.5 sacks and 18 TFLs in his 2 years starting.
Josh Conerly Jr. - Conerly Jr. was the offensive anchor for Oregon who has steadily improved over his two years starting. The Patriots need a LT and Conerly is the final Tackle in this draft that can start out of the gate while still having some room to grow.
While I'm lower on Conerly than most analysts, he does have the ideal frame and starting experience needed at the position. A good pass blocker is never a bad thing to have and this would be the last chance for the Patriots to truly get one.
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Round 3: Pick 69
Cam Skattebo - The biggest beneficiary of the college football playoffs, Cam Skattebo showed how much of a game changer he can be from the running back position. He is a tough and violent runner who is also capable of being an above average receiving option.
While RB isn't a strong need for the Pats, Antonio Gibson is quickly becoming obsolete and even Rhamondre showed his ceiling last year. Plus, adding another weapon for Drake Maye will be ideal this offseason.
Cameron Williams - The big Texas Tackle Cameron Williams has great potential because of his size and showed true power this season at RT. A mauling run blocker, he will need to work on techniques to truly become a starter.
At 6'6" and 317 pounds, Williams also measured the longest arms and BY FAR the largest hands of all the Day 1 and 2 Tackles. Williams is comparable to Trent Brown which is why he could be a good pick for the Pats and at 69 he may be a steal.
Tre Harris - Another faller in this draft, Tre Harris was one of the best prospects coming into the season and has fallen down to WR10-15 because of the deep class. Harris stands 6'2" and 205 pounds and is a physical route runner with good hands.
Harris is very comparable to Kendrick Bounre and Ja'Lynn Polk as a physical runner. Harris's hands seem a bit better and his jumping and jump ball ability is definitely better.
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Round 3: Pick 77 via ATL
Xavier Restrepo - Possibly the best route runner to fall out of the first round, Restrepo didn't have a great showing at the combine or the Senior Bowl. His ability and play at Miami isn't in question after back-to-back 1000-yard seasons including an 11-TD season this year.
His smaller size at 5'10" could be of some concern but frankly, some of New England's best receivers have come from deeper in the draft with small sizes; Restrepo's ability is eerily similar to A Danny Amendola.
Andrew Mukuba - Mukuba is the first DB I have on the list and could be great Safety depth and a possible starter one day. Mukuba is very experienced in Power-5 conferences and in CFPs on both Texas and Clemson. Mukuba has great ball instincts which culminated in 5 INTs this season.
Mukuba is a fearless tackles as well but doesn't have elite or even great athleticism which can hurt him as a downhill run stopper. Mukuba is a center fielder in the making and after a year or two to get used to an NFL-workload could be a perfect compliment to Kyle Dugger.
Alfred Collins - One of the final "elite prospects" in this incredible interior defender class, Alfred Collins is a Top-75 prospect but will be pushed down the boards because he is also DT11 in the class.
Collins is another NT, 1-tech at 6'6" and 332 pounds with tremendous run stuffing ability. His strength and size are key factors that could place him as a starter in New England from Day 1. Collins' pass rush is not developed and is the reason he falls down the board. His gap knowledge and pass rush arsenal are limited in such that any potential as a top interior rusher isn't really there but his ability to plug the middle of the line is more than useful enough to be impactful here at 77.
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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage on the New England Patriots and the 2025 NFL Draft.
-Z.D.
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