New England Patriots - Mock Draft 2.0
After last week’s Mock Draft 1.0 (check it out right here at https://bostonsportpage.blogspot.com/2025/03/new-england-patriots-post-free-agency.html), the more I thought about how the mock draft went for the Patriots, the more I worried that in six weeks when the actual NFL Draft takes place that the results are too unrealistic. If you’re too lazy to click the link, here’s the prior results:
Mock Draft 1.0 Results:
4. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
38. Josh Conerly Jr., LT, Oregon
69. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
77. Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina
106. Ajani Cornelius, RT, Oregon
144. Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
217. Kobe King, LB, Penn State
220. Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan
238. Thomas Fidone, TE, Nebraska
While it would be ideal to get Colorado’s multi-positional threat Travis Hunter at fourth overall and Oregon tackle Josh Conerly at 38th overall for New England, Hunter is likely going top three, and Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter are pretty much locked in on those spots in some order for Tennessee, Cleveland and the Giants.
Therefore, we’ll fire up the Mock Draft Machine again with a more realistic result at the top of the draft in a minute, but first let’s take another look at New England’s many needs for the roster.
DRAFT NEEDS:
Despite some spending in free agency, the Patriots missed out on some premium players at positions of need in free agency and the trade market. Working against New England is back-to-back 4-13 seasons and three different head coaches and coaching staffs in three consecutive seasons.
They tried to throw money at wide receiver Chris Godwin, but he stayed in Tampa. D.K. Metcalf had no intention of coming to New England via trade, and Tee Higgins was off the market. Davante Adams choosing between Sean McVay and New England was a no-brainer for the free agent receiver.
The offensive line market had Ronnie Stanley at the top and then everyone else. Once Stanley re-signed with Baltimore before the start of free agency, the Patriots knew there were no starting left tackles available. They did well to pivot to Moses, although not getting ahead of the Bears and trading for a reunion with Joe Thuney to shore up the interior was a strange non-move.
I’m not sure why they haven’t made a move for former Cleveland left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr at left tackle. They tried to lowball former Vikings left tackle Cam Robinson in free agency and he got a big one-year deal from Houston. The Patriots could have given him a two-year, $30 million deal and had a competent tackle.
On offense, outside of left tackle and wide receiver, the need would be another young tackle to develop and as many wide receivers as they can get their hands on. A receiving running back would be nice, as would a young tight end to develop as Hunter Henry and Hooper aren’t getting any younger. Garrett Bradberry is a short-term solution at center, so interior offensive line is also a need.
On defense, New England could use another edge rusher to develop and a big nose tackle to stick in the middle of the 3-4 defense. Another young linebacker to develop in the middle of the defense should be important to Vrabel to add to his defense, as would more depth at cornerback and safety, although there is some intriguing talent already there at cornerback.
Sadly, the only positions not mentioned were quarterback and running back, and a young back to develop behind Rhamondre Stevenson and a pass-catching/third-down back would be someone necessary for a Josh McDaniels offense. With Eliot Wolf in the front office, don’t be shocked to see another quarterback drafted on day three, as loading up on quarterbacks was the calling card of his dad when he ran the Packers.
RANKED NEEDS:
Left Tackle
Wide Receiver
3-4 Edge Rusher/OLB
Nose Tackle
3-4 Defensive Tackle/End
Cornerback
Center
Guard
Interior Linebacker
Safety
Running back
Quarterback
Mock Draft 2.0
Again, as some background, I am using the Pro Football & Sports Network Mock Draft Engine. It will suggest trades, allow trades, but only for draft picks in 2025 and 2026 (no players). However, it is the most accurate of the different mock draft machines online I’ve used over the last decade as far as ranking players and drafting for needs for the other 31 teams.
2025 NFL Draft date and time:
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin (Lambeau Field, Titletown and the Resch Complex).
Day 1, Round 1: Thursday, April 24, beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET.
Day 2, Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, April 25, beginning at approximately 7 p.m. ET.
Day 3, Rounds 4 through 7: Saturday, April 26, beginning at approximately noon ET.
Mock Draft 2.0:
Like Mock Draft 1.0, the draft starts with Tennessee taking Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State. Next is Cleveland with Cameron Ward, QB Miami (FL). Then the Giants take Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado at third overall.
Round 1: No. 4 overall:
For the Patriots, that win in week 18 brings the pain with no Carter and no Hunter to choose from. They desperately need a left tackle and a wide receiver. There is also a need for adding additional picks by trading down because the roster is so desperately in need of young and athletic talent at so many positions.
There are two extremely underwhelming trade offers, with Las Vegas offering a pick swap to move up from sixth overall, and Denver offering a boatload of 2026 picks to move up from 20th overall. No trade-downs here.
Wide receiver is an option. Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan seemed to have a lot of detractors (prospect fatigue) but he answered those questions at his pro day with a strong 40-yard dash showing he has the speed to go with his elite size.
However, left tackle is a need. Mississippi tackle Armand Membou has been climbing the draft board, but he has never played on the left side. Wingspan and arm-length aside, LSU left tackle Will Campbell is a tough and athletic left tackle who simply put up great tape at the position.
He has put up the tape of holding up against NFL pass rushers since stepping in at left tackle as a freshman. He is a mauling run blocker, and went 24 straight games over 2023 and 2024 at LSU without allowing a sack.
Addressing the short-arms, here are two other tackles from the 2021 NFL Draft taken with high picks who were supposedly question marks with their short arms: Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater and Lions right tackle Penei Sewell. Both teams trusted the game tape and now have superstar tackles making a difference in the trenches.
The Patriots cannot overthink it. Best player at the biggest position of need. Just pull the trigger.
Pick: Will Campbell, T, LSU
Round 2: No. 38:
At the top of the second round, wide receiver Luther Burden from Missouri is still available and at the top of my best remaining players. There is absolutely no way he drops to New England with the 38th overall pick.
Reaching out to Cleveland with an offer for the first pick of day two, I offer New England’s second third-round draft pick (thank you Atlanta for overpaying for Matt Judon) for their second third round pick (94th overall) that they got from Buffalo for wide receiver Amari Cooper. Unfortunately they decline.
Burden goes off the board at 35th overall to Tennessee, and one pick ahead of the Patriots, Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris goes to Las Vegas. I love Jack Bech from TCU and recently took him in the second round for a mock draft, but Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond was off-the-board in that mock.
Bond can step into the Josh McDaniels offense and fill a role like Deion Branch did early in the Patriots Dynasty. Bond still has upside to be unlocked, can line-up anywhere in the formation, and most importantly can be a receiver capable of stressing defenses. Jersey number 7 is available with Jacoby Brissett gone (Bond wears that number as a reference to James Bond 007), so the fit is there.
Pick: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Round 3: No. 69:
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is still available and I am hoping for the phone to ring with a trade offer.
San Francisco is offering a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to move up from 75 overall and the Jets are also offering a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to move down to 73 overall (but want a seventh-round pick back).
The Jets will have to pay the AFC East tax if they want to move up. I countered with asking for a fifth-round pick this year, but no dice. San Francisco has a couple of seventh-round draft picks this year so I asked for one but no dice.
I’ll take the future fourth from San Francisco and go back to 75th overall.
Pick: Traded to San Francisco for No. 75 and 2026 fourth-round draft pick
Round 3: No. 75:
San Francisco passed on Milroe and traded up for offensive lineman Marcus Mbow from Purdue. Mbow is a college tackle expected to kick inside.
The Patriots now have No. 75 and 77, so with the picks bunched together, there is opportunity to trade down again and grab an extra pick.
On defense, nose tackles Alfred Collins from Texas, T.J. Sanders from South Carolina, and Omarr Norman-Lott from Tennessee are still available. Linebacker Barrett Carter from Clemson does a bit of everything. Cornerback is a need on defense but Ohio State’s Dezel Burke is the only one at the position I’d consider.
Pass rush needs an upgrade and Kyle Kennard from South Carolina and Jared Ivey from Ole Miss are available. Kennard has good size to set the edge on the outside while Ivey may fit better as a 3-4 defensive end.
Offensive line, even drafting Campbell is a need for depth inside and on the interior. Hollin Pierce from Rutgers and Anthony Belton from NC State are available here. Both are draft and develop guys, with Pierce massive and powerful but very raw and Belton physically imposing but in need of coaching.
Double-dipping at wide receiver is a possibility with Stanford perimeter wide receiver Elic Ayomanor and TCU perimeter receiver Jack Bech as well as Miami (FL) slot wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and Oregon slot receiver Tez Johnson are still out there. Texas tight end Gunner Helm address a position of need.
Miami and Atlanta had trade offers, but neither moved the needle. At this point, a big anchor in the middle of the defensive line sounds good and Alfred Collins from Texas brings significant size and power. Collins was stuck behind Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat and excelled and stepped up last season. He should be the future nose tackle for a while.
Pick: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Round 3: No. 77:
Ayomanor is off the board at 76th overall to New Orleans. Again, there are many options but I am still looking for someone to panic and give up too much draft capital to snag Jalen Milroe. Milroe was expected to go in the top fifty picks and is still available at no. 77 overall.
Success. Tennessee, who passed on a much-needed quarterback in the first two rounds (edge Abdul Carter and wide receiver Luther Burden III) to land two immediate impact players, can roll the dice at quarterback here.
Offering their pick at the top of the fourth round (No. 103 overall) and a 2026 third-round pick, I haggle a bit to try and pry another pick away from them. It works, as they add a 2026 seventh-round pick to sweeten the deal.
Pick: Traded to Tennessee for fourth-round pick (No. 103), their 2026 third-round pick and the Chargers’ 2026 seventh-round pick.
Round 4: No. 103:
Day three kicks off with New England holding Tennessee’s pick at the top of the round. With plenty of time to review the prospects available, there’s no need to wait long to get the pick in.
Top Available:
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State; Tai Felton, WR, Maryland; Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse;
Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State; Jordan Burch, DE/EDGE, Oregon; Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State; David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech; Zy Alexander, CB, LSU; Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma;
Strong is long and has good-enough speed but excellent coverage skills. He may need to work on stepping up in the run game, but is a solid developmental player. Strong is at the top of the board for me and could develop into a starting cornerback by the time Carlton Davis’ contract is up.
Pick: Dorien Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
Round 4: Pick 106:
Two picks on offense to start the draft, and now two picks on defense.
After picking Strong, BC tackle Ozzy Trapillo went to Cleveland and the Giants got their quarterback with Ohio State’s Will Howard.
Top Available:
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State; Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech; Tai Felton, WR, Maryland; Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse;
Logan Brown, T, Kansas;
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State; CJ West, DT, Indiana; Jordan Burch, DE/EDGE, Oregon; Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State; David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas; Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami (FL);
Zy Alexander, CB, LSU; Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas; Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville; Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State; Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma;
The Patriots could use another pass catcher (tight end or wide receiver) and a young interior offensive lineman to develop. However, there is a lot of talent with pass rushers and one of my favorite players, Jack Sawyer from Ohio State is still available.
Sawyer is not a speedy guy on the edge. He is big and strong and tackles everyone. He is at his best stunting and rushing inside and sets a strong edge. He is high-motor and never quits on a play. He sets a tone, and coming from Ohio State, you know Mike Vrabel will have all the inside info on him.
Pick: Jack Sawyer, DE/EDGE, Ohio State
Round 5: No. 144:
This draft is deep at tight end and in the fifth round, there is still good talent available. Clemson’s Jake Briningstool would be a great prospect to bring in and learn from Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry.
Briningstool does everything well, just nothing spectacularly. He’s a willing blocker, excels against zone coverage, but is not fast enough or athletic or twitchy enough to do much against man coverage. But he is tough, has a great attitude, and should fit as a player who fits what Mike Vrabel is looking for.
Also considered:
J.J. Pegues, DT, Ole Miss; Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon; Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame; Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse; Jeffrey Bassa, LB Oregon;
Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas; Malachi Moore, S Alabama
Trey Wedig, OT, Indiana; Garrett Dellinger, OG, LSU;
Pick: Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson
Round 7: No. 217- Pick: Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, RB, USC
Round 7: No. 220 - Pick: Jacob Gideon, OC, Western Michigan
Round 7: No. 238 - Pick: Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State
Woody Marks is a slashing, one-cut back who doesn’t dawdle behind the line of scrimmage. He is a potential third-down back in the Josh McDaniels offense with his pass catching ability. Bonus after watching the Patriots putting the ball on the ground last year: Just one fumble in over 600 career carries.
Jacob Gideon has played center and guard at Western Michigan and has been a leader and captain. He is a mauler in the running game and has quick enough feet to get locked in on pass rushers. He needs some coaching, but Doug Marrone should love having a hard-nosed player like Gideon.
Jalen Travis is a project at tackle. He has NFL size, but he had a high learning curve after leaving Princeton to play at Iowa State last year. He is one of those “lump of clay” tackles who will take a couple of years on the practice squad to develop. However, his size, strength and sneaky athleticism makes him an intriguing candidate late in the seventh round.
Draft Results:
4. Will Campbell, OT LSU
38. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
75. Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
103. Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
106. Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
144. Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson
217. Jo'Quavious Marks, RB USC
220. Jacob Gideon, OC Western Michigan
238. Jalen Travis, OT Iowa State
2026 TEN 3rd
2026 SF 4th
2026 LAC 7th
Final Thoughts:
This was a worthwhile exercise to see how the Patriots handle not having Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter available at fourth overall in the first round. Tennessee, Cleveland and the Giants all desperately need a young quarterback, so the hope is that on draft night that someone gets a little twitchy and starts reaching for a quarterback after Cam Ward is off the board.
Left tackle and wide receiver were addressed early, as they desperately needed to be. Some interesting defensive players were added in the third and fourth rounds, and then it was back to getting help for Drake Maye.
Trading down and picking up three extra picks for next season is a huge plus.
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