New England Patriots - Mock Draft 3.0

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - MOCK DRAFT 3.0

Rejoice, New England Patriots fans! 

For the first time since…well, first time in my lifetime and I’ve been following the Patriots since the days of coach Ron Erhardt (who should be in the NFL Hall of Fame -- don’t get me started on how his offensive system is one of the most influential ever and still used today) and the Patriots opened their wallet in free agency for an impact wide receiver. 

Seriously. Shawn Jefferson, Danny Amendola and David Patten are the three best free agent wide receivers in team history. Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Brandin Cooks? All acquired via trade. 

Jefferson was signed as a #2 to Terry Glenn. Amendola was signed for the slot role that he lost out to seventh-round draft pick and Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman. Patten was an undersized outside receiver joining his third team and with less than 1,000 yards combined over four seasons.

None of those players had the resume of new Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs: 

• Five seasons with 100 or more receptions; 
• Six seasons with 1,000 or more yards receiving;
• Six seasons with eight or more receiving touchdowns;
• Four-time Pro Bowl selection;
• Two-time AP All Pro selection;
• And he was the receiver on the end of the “Minneapolis Miracle”, one of the greatest plays in NFL Playoff History.

Yes, he is 31 years old. 

Yes, he wore out his welcome in Minnesota and Buffalo, leading to him being traded away from both teams. 

Yes, he is coming off of a torn ACL that ended his season in Houston after just eight games.

But he is undoubtedly the best option available to the Patriots to add an impact wide receiver at the top of the depth chart to assist in the development of franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Just as he did in Buffalo with Josh Allen, Diggs will give the young quarterback a competent and trusted partner in the passing game as he grows into (hopefully) superstardom. 

Of course, the thought of adding an impact wide receiver in free agency immediately makes one wonder how this will impact the Patriots in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

I’d still like to see the Patriots make a move for a left tackle before the draft. Former Browns tackle Jedrick Wills is still a free agent. 

Wills was a top-ten draft pick in 2020 out of Alabama. He has always been an above-average pass blocker. He is only 26 years old.

The negatives are that being in that horrible Cleveland Browns culture might have robbed him of the will to play. He wouldn’t be the first high Browns draft pick desperately in need of a fresh start to turn his career around. 

He’s worth a flier at this point with the massive hole at left tackle in New England.

Previous Mock Drafts:

Previous Mock Draft links are below along with the 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

Mock Draft 2.0 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

PATRIOTS UPDATED RANKED NEEDS:

1. Left Tackle

2. 4-3 Edge Rusher/OLB

3. Wide Receiver

4. 4-3 Defensive Tackle

5. 4-3 Defensive End

6. Cornerback

7. Guard

8. Center

9. 4-3 Interior Linebacker

10. Safety

11. Running back

12. Quarterback

The Stefon Diggs and Garrett Bradbury signings impact the needs slightly. Still, the Patriots are in position to draft the best player available at fourth overall.

Background:

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. 

• Once again, you can tune in on draft night for the live draft night instant analysis and reaction as myself and my football brother, David Kromelow aka DKrom, and host of SportsKrunch with DKrom. More details as we get closer to the draft.

• 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 3.0:

Here we go!

Tennessee has needs on both sides of the ball and surprises no one with their pick of quarterback Cameron Ward who starred last year at Miami (FL). This has been clear for a while now that the Titans are resetting at the quarterback position with Ward, who appears to be the one quarterback in the draft worthy of a first round draft pick.

Next up is the Browns, who like the Titans (and everyone else picking here early in the draft) have numerous needs on offense and defense. Despite bringing back edge rusher Myles Garrett on a huge contract extension, the Browns take one of the two special athletes and players in the draft, grabbing edge rusher Abdul Carter from Penn State, giving them a huge boost on defense with potentially a great pass rush. ‘

The first curveball comes with the New York Giants at the third overall pick. With general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll fighting for the jobs, they pass on the best player regardless of position in the draft (Travis Hunter) and instead grab the hottest riser in the draft this offseason, the athletic right tackle Armand Membou out of Missouri.

Sure, it is a position of need for the Giants, but letting Hunter drop to New England at fourth overall is a blunder that could cost them for the next decade.

Round 1: No. 4 overall:

Trades? I’m not listening to any stinking trades. I don’t know if there is some kind of Travis Hunter fatigue but the Colorado multi-position player is the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. 

Hunter is arguably the best wide receiver coming out of college (sorry, not buying Tetairoia McMillan as a top-ten pick. Arizona moved McMillan around to get match-ups versus safeties and linebackers in coverage, but that isn’t going to happen in the NFL. He has good strength and a big wingspan, but lacks the high-end speed to get open consistently.

Hunter has special athleticism, just like Abdul Carter, and that makes these two the slam-dunk choices. Hunter shouldn’t be available at fourth overall. As a receiver, he makes plays at all three levels and still has room to improve as a route-runner.

On defense, Hunter took a huge step forward in coverage and smothered opposing wide receivers all season long. Despite playing full-time on both sides of the ball, Hunter held up all season long. 

He is ready to step in as a nickel/dime cornerback immediately and play 25-50% of the snaps. At the same time, he should be able to play 50-75% of the snaps at wide receiver as a weapon for quarterback Drake Maye.

Let’s see what the trade offers are so they can be dismissed. Tom Brady and the Raiders are offering their second round pick and the sixth overall to move up to fourth overall and get back a third round pick. Yah, thanks for calling. Buh-by Tommy boy.

The Bears would love to move up and grab Travis Hunter, but offering just their lower second draft pick to move up from tenth overall? I have no need to go back-and-forth with Ryan Poles when they’re not going to be able to make an offer that would entice a trade down.

Pick: Travis Hunter, CB/WR - Colorado

Round 2: No. 38 overall: 

By the end of the first round, I was getting fidgety as an offensive tackle loaded with potential tumbled down the draft board. Conserving draft picks (I had tackles Josh Conerly Jr, Cameron Williams and Aireontae Ersery still on the board as well, and I would have no issue taking any of those three in the second round). Patience paid off, as Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons fell to New England at 38th overall.  

Simmons was expected to be the top tackle heading into 2024 and through six games did nothing to dispel that notion as he was a top-five overall pick…until he tore his patella tendon in his left knee and missed the rest of the season.

Simmons has good size, good length, great athleticism and handles speed rushers off the edge with ease. He has room to improve in run blocking, but shows all the signs of being an above-average left tackle for years to come.

I will do my duty and listen to trade offers. Hi old friend Nick Caserio. What’s that, you want us to move down 20 spots for a pick swap next year and a third round draft pick? No thanks. 

Kansas City, no doubt kicking themselves for trading back out of the first round with the 49ers with Simmons on the board, are trying to jump up from 43rd overall. That is tempting, as they’re offering a late third round pick to move up only five spots. 

Although I could move back and still likely get one of the Conerly/Williams/Ersery trio at 43, I prefer Simmons over all three and like in the first round there is no way to tempt me out of this pick.

Pick: Josh Simmons, LT - Ohio State

Round 3: No. 69: 

Trading down should be a valid option for New England in each round to add more draft capital to fill the many needs on both sides of the ball. Yes, I didn’t follow my own advice, but Hunter is a unicorn and Simmons was a first-round talent at a position of need who tumbled to the second round.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch is on the phone and eyeing the 69th overall pick and are offering a fifth round pick (No. 147) to jump up from 75th overall. I countered by asking for their last of several seventh round picks, and weaseled away the 249th overall pick as well. Not a bad deal with multiple prospects to choose from here and no one who is a “must-pick” like Hunter and SImmons were in the first two rounds. 

Pick: Traded for Pick 75 (Round 3), Pick 147 (Round 5) and Pick 249 (Round 7)

Round 3: No. 75 & 77: 

Some interesting options available here with New England picking at 75 and 77. 

On the defensive line, South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders and Toledo’s Darius Alexander would be a fit as attacking upfield 4-3 defensive ends in the new Mike Vrabel New England defense. The massive Alfred Collins from Texas would be a great fit inside at defensive tackle. 

Edge rusher Jared Ivey from Ole Miss is intriguing with his size (six-foot-six and 275 lbs) and edge setting ability and explosive pass rush. Off-ball linebackers Barrett Carter from Clemson and Chris Paul Jr. from Ole Miss are intriguing fits due to their ability to blitz and cover tight ends and running backs, which was a huge weakness in 2024. 

Running back isn’t a big need, but Ohio State’s speedy running back TreVeyon Henderson would be a value pick here. At wide receiver, Jack Bech from TCU was plucked by New Orleans a few picks earlier, but the long outside receiver Jayden Higgins from Iowa State is on the board. 

Slot receiver Xavier Restrepo from Miami (FL) is dropping down draft boards after a 4.80 forty yard dash at the Miami pro day. Oregon’s Tez Johnson is a miniscule slot option (five-foot-nine and 155 lbs) and his size is scaring off many teams. Utah State’s Jalen Royals is an outside receiver who is climbing draft boards with his solid size (six-foot-one and 205 lbs) and excellent speed (4.42 forty yard dash). 

The Patriots could use a young tight end to develop and LSU’s Mason Taylor fits the bill with great hands, solid blocking ability and Hall of Fame bloodlines (his father is former Dolphins edge rusher Jason Taylor and his uncle is Dolphins hall of fame linebacker Zach Thomas). 

Sorry Steelers GM Omar Khan, not going to listen to your offer of multiple picks in 2026 to move up from the fourth round.

These picks are for the defense. 

Pick: Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., LB - Ole Miss 

Pick: Alfred Collins, DT - Texas

Round 4: No. 106: 

Back on the clock, some interesting directions for the Patriots to take in the fourth round. 

On defense, Oregon’s toolsy and oozing with upside edge rusher Jordan Burch has dropped out of the top-100. Florida State defensive lineman Joshua Farmer is a developmental prospect. 

In the secondary, Zy Alexander is a long cornerback who could be stashed and developed for a year or two. 

On offense, a pair of developmental tackles in NC State’s Anthony Belton and Oregon right tackle Ajani Cornelius are still available. Running back Cameron Skattebo from Arizona State is a potential NFL starter. 

Wide receiver Kyren Lacy for LSU would be a good red zone target and outside receiver who needs more refinement of his technique. Maryland‘s Tai Felton is a field-stretcher but his size will give Patriots fans Tyquan Thornton flashbacks.

Baltimore general manager and Taunton High School alumni Eric DeCosta offered an intriguing package of two late fourth round picks to move up, but with Jordan Burch still on the board, this one is a no-brainer to stay.

Pick: Jordan Burch, EDGE - Oregon

Round 5: No. 144: 

Round 5: No. 147: 

The extra pick from San Francisco here in the fourth round allows the Patriots to jump back to offense and make a bit of a luxury pick. Running back is not a need right now, but in a year or two it will be. Ollie Gordon II from Oklahoma State has a fourth round grade from me, so seeing him here in the fifth round is a good value pick to stash for 2026.

With the second pick, another offensive weapon to develop for the future presents itself in Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool. He’s a tough, possession tight end who might not be high on many draft boards because he’s a little light for an in-line tight end and not a shifty separating tight end to play off the line. But he has great hands and great awareness settling into open spots in zone coverages. 

Picks: Ollie Gordon II, RB - Oklahoma State

Jake Briningstool, TE - Clemson

Round 7: No. 217

Round 7: No. 220

Round 7: No. 238

Round 7: No. 249

It’s a long way to wait out the entire sixth round, but with four picks in the seventh round with San Francisco’s added to the haul, it was well worth the wait. 

By this point of the draft, it’s time to draft flawed prospects and hope to shine up a diamond in the rough. 

Tonka Hemingway is a tweener who teams will have to find the right place on the defensive line to get the most from him. He could fit in as a one-gap 4-3 defensive end in the new defensive scheme and is a talented and athletic player to get with the first pick of the seventh round.

A few picks later, Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord is still on the board. Quarterback is not a need, but the Patriots have a wolf in the fold, Eliot Wolf as de facto general manager. His father Ron Wolf turned late round quarterbacks into better draft capital in Green Bay and after bumping up Joe Milton’s value, why not grab another quarterback? McCord was the heir apparent to C.J. Stroud at Ohio State…until he wasn’t and transferred to Syracuse. A former five-star recruit, there is talent there to tap.

The third seventh round pick nets Jalen Travis, a developmental tackle from Iowa State. Travis has the size (six-foot-eight and 340 lbs) and athleticism to develop, but he lacks fundamentals and needs a few years on the practice squad and a lot of attention from Doug Marrone to develop.

Finally, with the pick from San Francisco at the end of the seventh round, another big body for the defensive line is available. Nazir Stackhouse is a powerful space-eater who did a lot of dirty work in the trenches for the Bulldogs’ great defenses over the past four years. He’s a run stuffer on first and second down and not much of a pass rusher, but such a player still has a role in this defense to occupy blockers to allow the linebackers to make plays,

Picks: Tonka Hemingway, DT - South Carolina

Kyle McCord, QB - Syracuse

Jalen Travis, OT - Iowa State

Nazir Stackhouse, DT - Georgia

Draft Results: 

Round 1 Pick 4: Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado

Round 2 Pick 38: Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State

Round 3 Pick 75: Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., LB Ole Miss

Round 3 Pick 77: Alfred Collins, DT Texas

Round 4 Pick 106: Jordan Burch, EDGE Oregon

Round 5 Pick 144. Ollie Gordon II, RB Oklahoma State

Round 5 Pick 147: Jake Briningstool, TE Clemson

Round 7 Pick 217: Tonka Hemingway, DT South Carolina

Round 7 Pick 220. Kyle McCord, QB Syracuse

Round 7 Pick 238: Jalen Travis, OT Iowa State

Round 7 Pick 249: Nazir Stackhouse, DT Georgia

Final Thoughts:

I was surprised with some of the players dropping down the draft board in this mock draft. This is a draft where there is little consensus outside of the top five players on draft boards and there will be a lot of variance between the value of players even the middle of the first round.

 

Expect a lot of “I can’t believe player X was available at Y spot of the draft because we had him ranked as Z,” stories after this year’s draft, With teams churning through front offices and coaches so quickly, most teams have to lean on scheme fit and cannot risk taking a player who may take years to develop because they may be gone by the time the player is ready to perform.

That said, players such as Travis Hunter at fourth overall, Josh Simmons at 38th overall, and Jordan Burch falling out of the top-100 are all picks in this mock draft that I just cannot rationally anticipate actually happening during the draft.

Hunter, Collins, Briningstool and Travis have all been selected in my previous mock drafts, and there has been no reason for them to fall out of favor as potential fits in New England.  

Taking a second look, I am second-guessing taking Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. in the third round and now have me wondering why I didn’t just grab Jayden Higgins or Jalen Royals to upgrade the talent in the wide receiver group.

Ollie Gordon II in the fifth round seems like a luxury pick as well, as running back could wait until next year. However, if there was a pick that could have gone another way, this was the pick. An interior offensive lineman or another cornerback would have been more on target for adding much needed depth to the defense. 

That said, adding weapons for the offense to help out Drake Maye is never a bad thing. Gordon and Briningstool aren’t sure things, but they have the potential to develop into contributors in the coming years.