New England is back in the top five for the second consecutive draft after a stretch of 15 years between top-10 selections ended with third overall pick Drake Maye in 2024.
With the quarterback position apparently locked down, all the Patriots have to do is … figure out nearly everything else.
Mike Vrabel was hired and changes are afoot for the Patriots with a third head coach in three seasons following a 3-14 finish in Jerod Mayo’s only season at the helm.
Some scheme changes are predictable and there are talented holdovers in place beyond Maye.
New England also spent willfully to reel in defensive tackle Milton Williams (Eagles), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (Texans), cornerback Carlton Davis (Lions), right tackle Morgan Moses (Jets), inside linebacker Robert Spillane (Raiders) and outside linebacker Harold Landry (Titans) to begin re-stocking critical positions.
Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL and the running game flatlined late in the 2024 season. Additional playmakers on either side of the ball and help in the trenches are top items left on the team’s shopping list entering the draft.
The struggle for owner Robert Kraft and Vrabel is trusting Eliot Wolf will make the right call after whiffing on every draft pick after Maye in his first draft last April.
–Team needs
Left tackle: Finding Maye his Matt Light (Tom Brady’s ultra-reliable left tackle for five New England Super Bowls) should be the first order of business, no matter how dedicated Wolf is to following the best-player-available mantra in the draft.
Outside linebacker: New England traded away Matthew Judon — and hold the 77th pick in this year’s draft in return — and then had only 28 total sacks last season. Patriots opponents had 51. Landry rejoined Vrabel as a capable pass rusher but he’s not a player opponents worry about because of his speed or electric first step.
Tight end: Josh McDaniels is back (again) as offensive coordinator and his preference of a two-tight end base formation would require a sidekick for veteran Hunter Henry, who tied for the team lead with 66 receptions in 2024.
–Best prospect fits
OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
CB-WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
OT Will Campbell, LSU
OT-OG Armand Membou, Missouri
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
WR Jack Bech, TCU
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 9
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 4, 4
2: 6, 38
3: 5, 69
3: 13, 77 (from Atlanta Falcons)
4: 4, 106
5: 6, 144
5: 35, 171 (from Dallas Cowboys)
7: 4, 220
7: 22, 238 (from Los Angeles Chargers)
–History Lesson
–The last time the Patriots selected a defensive lineman in the first round was 2015 (Texas DT Malcom Brown, 32nd overall).
–New England has drafted six total wide receivers in the past four drafts.
