New England Patriots - Mock Draft 4.0
There is no one more popular in Foxboro than the back-up quarterback.
Scott Zolak is still making money in New England off his gig backing up Drew Bledsoe. Before Tom Brady, Michael Bishop was the fan’s choice at the turn of the century.
Matt Cassel had his stans, and who can forget the Jimmy Garappolo debate of 2014? Recently, New England had a case of Zappe Fever. Last year, the Joe Milton hype built and built after his strong performance against the Buffalo back-up defense in a meaningless week 18 game.
The Patriots traded Milton to Dallas. Not a surprise there, but the compensation is what has set off everyone in the greater Foxboro area. New England sent Milton (who was to be the third quarterback after the team had signed Joshua Dobbs this offseason) along with their first seventh round pick (No. 217) for one of Dallas’ fifth round picks (No. 171).
This resets the picks for the Patriots, necessitating another mock draft. But sending away a player held in such high regard by the fanbase, it requires a readjustment of the positional needs rankings.
First, let’s review the three 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
Mock Draft 3.0 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
PATRIOTS UPDATED RANKED NEEDS:
Left Tackle
4-3 Edge Rusher/OLB
Wide Receiver
4-3 Defensive Tackle
4-3 Defensive End
Cornerback
Guard
Center
Running back
Quarterback
4-3 Interior Linebacker
Safety
The Joe Milton trade and the recent Stefon Diggs and Garrett Bradbury free agency 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 hope in New England is that the New York Giants reach for another quarterback with the third overall pick. With general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll fighting for the jobs, they break the heart of New England fans and pass on Shadeur Sanders from Colorado and instead make the smart move and take the best player regardless of position in the draft (Travis Hunter).
That week 18 win against Buffalo that dropped the Patriots from the first overall pick to the fourth overall pick hurts in this scenario. The hope was that one of the two impact players in the draft would drop due to the three teams picking ahead of them having no long term answers at the position.
Tennessee should grab Ward as Will Levis was terrible last year and Brandon Allen and Tim Doyle are not starters. However, the Browns have Kenny Pickett as their only healthy quarterback with albatross DeShaun Watson behind him. That is a huge need for them.
Finally, the Giants brought in quarterbacks, but are they any good? Russell Wilson was dreadful down the stretch in Pittsburgh, Jameis Winston lost his starting job in Cleveland last year still throwing too many interceptions, and Tommy DeVito is not a starter or even second-stringer.
Both Cleveland and New York have a desperate need at quarterback, but it is looking more and more like this mock will be accurate and both teams will select the impact players rather than reaching for a position of need without a player worthy of that selection.
Round 1: No. 4 overall:
The dream scenario for the Patriots with Hunter and Carter off the board is a trade down to acquire more draft assets. Also, because of the lack of impact players (especially on offense), there is little difference between the players from No. 4 though No. 20 in the draft.
New England needs someone to fall in love with a prospect and make a bold move up to fourth overall. They get very lucky in this mock draft scenario, with Jacksonville offering a third-round draft pick (No. 70) to move from No. 5 up one spot to No. 4 overall.
Result: Trade down to No. 5 overall
Round 1: No. 5 overall:
Jacksonville grabbed gritty defensive tackle Mason Graham, so all options are on the table for New England on the offensive line, wide receiver, tight end and remaining edge rushers and cornerbacks who can fill a need this high in the draft.
The trade-down is still an option for the Patriots and the phones are ringing.
Denver is looking to move up, offering a haul to move up from No. 20 overall.
Dallas is looking to move from No. 12 overall.
The Jets at No. 7 overall are looking to move up.
As much as trading with the Jets seems wrong, in this case, the value of the Jets offering their second-round draft pick (No. 42 overall) to move up two spots dwarfs the offers from Dallas and Denver.
Trying to sweeten the deal and make the Jets pay a tax for an inter-division trade with a hated rival, I ask for their sixth-round draft pick as a counter-offer and they accept and the Patriots recoup a pick at the end of the sixth round (No. 207 overall) to go with the second round pick.
Result: Trade down to No.7 overall
Round 1: No. 7 overall:
Poor Jerry Jones. The Jets drafted tackle/guard Will Campbell, the offensive lineman from LSU, but the Raiders snagged presumed Dallas target running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State at sixth overall.
With two trade downs, the Patriots have picked up a third-round pick from the Jaguars and a second-round pick and sixth-round pick from the Jets, by only dropping three spots. Another trade down to around ninth or tenth overall would be great, but New Orleans and Chicago are holding onto their picks and have no interest.
The only offers are from teams in the 20s, which is not where I am looking to be picking.
At this point, the top offensive linemen on the board are Armand Membou, a right tackle from Missouri, Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks, and Alabama guard Tyler Booker. Josh Simmons from Ohio State was the expected top left tackle in the draft, but a knee injury in week six ended his season and he may drop to day two.
Wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona and Matthew Golden from Texas lead the board, while tight ends Tyler Warren from Penn State and Colston Loveland from Michigan are intriguing.
Cornerback Will Johnson from Michigan headlines the remaining defensive players, with a pair of playmaking safeties in Malaki Starks from Georgia and Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina looking like instant starters on most teams.
Linebacker Jalon Walker from Georgia is intriguing, as is his teammate Mykel Williams. Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart has all the athleticism and size but has a low floor but super-high ceiling. His lack of production in college with all those tools is scary. His teammate Jihaad Campbell may be the better pick.
Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is in the mix, as is disruptive defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from Oregon. Marshall edge rusher Mike Green is a wild-card playing for a smaller school and having some off-field red flags, but he was a machine piling up sacks and simply destroyed the top offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl practices.
A lot of pundits have the Patriots taking rising star offensive tackle Armand Membo with their pick at fourth overall, so his availability at seventh overall makes him a top target. Membou has only played on the right side, but they brought in one of the best offensive line coaches of all-time in Doug Marrone, so drafting and developing a young and athletic right tackle and flipping him to the left side is not out of the question.
Pick: Armand Membou, Tackle - Missouri
Round 2: No. 38 overall:
Thanks to the earlier tradedowns, the Patriots have five selections now in the next forty picks as they are on the clock. I had thought of trading up for a couple of prospects with first round grades who dropped to the second round, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and Marshall edge rusher Mike Green. Unfortunately, the teams above weren’t interested in trading down.
Cincinnati and the Chargers are looking to move up. The Chargers are offering a high 2026 pick to move up 17 spots. The Bengals look to go up 11 spots and offer their third round pick. This is more intriguing. Having two second-round picks and three third-round picks along with Membou is an amazing haul for a team desperate for young talent.
There are good players on the board, but many of them will still be there at 42nd overall with the pick they got from the Jets. Also, at 49th overall, it’s still a top-50 pick. Grabbing another top-100 pick is too tempting to pass up.
Pick: Trade down to 49th overall
Round 2: No. 42 overall:
Lucky, lucky, lucky. The Bengals were moving up for North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, a great player but not a huge need for New England with a significant investment made in Rhamondre Stevenson.
Chicago took Texas safety Andrew Mukuba, also not a huge position at need with multiple investments in the position already with Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger. New Orleans grabbed a potential target with Iowa State speedy slot wide receiver Jaylin Noel. I had New England pick Noel in my first mock draft in the second round, as he seems like a good fit in a Josh McDaniels offense.
The Bears had the pick prior and their second second-round pick was Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson, a big productive disruptor who would be a real good fit in Mike Vrabel’s defense.
Holding out for a strong defensive player paid off, as Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, and Notre Dame multi-purpose defensive back (free safety, strong safety, slot cornerback) Xavier Watts are on the board.
On offense, although he is still there, quarterback Jaxson Dart seems like a luxury pick for a backup quarterback. Doubling-up at tackle, the Patriots have the option of Oregon left tackle Josh Conerly and Minnesota left tackle Aireontae Ersery. At wide receiver, Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris and Jalen Royals from Utah State headline the remaining players.
This is a no-brainer, though. Walter Nolen is a big, explosive and penetrating interior defensive lineman. Nolen got into the backfield regularly and impacted the run and pass game. I have him with a top-25 prospect grade, so having him here in the second round is a gift,
Sure, the Patriots have invested in the position with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, but organizations like the Eagles and Ravens have dominant defenses by having multiple waves of players on the inside, and the depth in New England could use an upgrade.
Pick: Walter Nolen, Defensive Tackle/End - Ole Miss
Round 2: No. 49
New England is back on the clock again in just a couple of picks. Watts and Amos are still available on defense, and Conerly and Ersery are there for offensive line help. Harris and Royals remain at wide receiver.
Interior offensive line help is available too, with guards Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona and West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum on the board.
With free agent Morgan Moses a short-term option at right tackle, another tackle is a wise move, if not a flashy move. Ersery played left tackle for three years but may be a right tackle. He has massive size, good length, power and athleticism, and with a little work with Doug Marrone could be the long-term answer opposite Membou and have New England set at both tackle positions on the offensive line for the long term.
Pick: Aireontae Ersery, Offensive Tackle - Minnesota
Round 3: No. 69 & No. 70:
Back on the clock, a trade-offer from Pittsburgh comes in. Move down 14 spots and pick up a fourth round pick. What’s that all about? Ahh, Jaxson Dart has tumbled to round three and he won’t get past the Saints at No. 71 or the Jets or Giants at No. 73 and 74. With the next pick, this is a good spot to try and bleed some additional capital from a desperate Steelers team.
I asked for No. 185 overall in the sixth round but they passed. Oh well, I don’t care if they don’t want a quarterback. The Patriots have needs and this is a great spot to get a couple of players to improve the offense.
Speedy wide receiver Isaiah Bond transferred from Alabama to Texas and spent too much time as a decoy. He has high-level speed and is twitchy and should be able to line up anywhere and be used on quick throws as well as a deep threat. He is the top player on my depth chart (other than Dart) and is a no brainer at this point of the draft.
Another weapon on offense for quarterback Drake Maye would be smart and H-Back/Tight End Harold Fannin Jr. from Bowling Green would be a great pick to inject some juice in the offense.
Picks: Isaiah Bond, Wide Receiver - Texas
Harold Fannin Jr., Tight End - Bowling Green
Round 3: No. 77 & 81:
Back on the clock again at pick no. 77 and having added pick no. 81 as well. Not expecting the Steelers to call as this mock draft simulation had the Giants scoop up quarterback Jaxson Dart at 74th overall in the third round, which is an amazing value pick for them. Sorry, Steelers, you should have added the extra pick and you’d have your guy. Not doing that franchise any favors.
Having covered the big needs at both offensive tackle positions, defensive tackle, wide receiver and tight end, the Patriots can add the best player available at cornerback, anywhere in the front seven, or add another playmaker on offense.
Extra picks make a big difference with versatility.
At No. 77, I have TCU wide receiver Jack Bech (who you can hear me gushing about him on the SportsKrunch with DKrom podcast as I mock him to the Patriots), Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke and Toledo defensive tackle/end Darius Alexander as my top three prospects here.
I have Arizona trying to jump ahead from No. 78, but I am locked in on small school interior lineman Alexander. He can play anywhere on the defensive line and has size and length. He is raw and may need some refinement, but he dominated interior defenders at the Senior Bowl practices and projects as another big body on defense who can be a solid part of the rotation.
At No. 81, I really SHOULD take Burke. Cornerback depth is needed on defense, but Bech is a perfect fit as an outside receiver who overloads the receiver room and with Bond, would push two out of Keyshon Boutte, Javon Baker and Kendrick Bourne off the roster.
That said, Bech has NFL size (six-foot-one and 214 lbs.) and can play on the outside or slide inside and return both kicks and punts. He is strong and physical and has great hands. At TCU, he was excellent at using his body to get position and seemingly pulled in every pass his way.
Picks: Darius Alexander, Defensive Tackle/End - Toledo
Jack Bech, Wide Receiver, TCU
Round 4: No. 106:
Phone is ringing again. Jacksonville is looking to jump ahead one spot from No.107. I have my sights set on LSU cornerback Zy Alexander here. However, Jacksonville is offering a move up from the seventh-round (No. 207) to the sixth-round (No. 182).
Moving up 25 spots later to drop one spot? Yeah, I can’t say no.
Pick: Trade down to 107th overall
Round 4: No. 107:
As I had hoped, Jacksonville had a need at offensive line help and moved up to make sure they got Oregon right tackle Ajani Cornelius. That leaves Zy Alexander sitting there waiting to be scooped up.
With Christian Gonzalez, free agent signing Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones and Alex Austin, there is a solid group, but they could use some young depth in the secondary. Alexander is long and wiry at six-foot-one and 187 lbs.
Despite starting the last two years at LSU after transferring from Southeast Louisiana, he ran a disappointing 4.56 forty-yard dash at the combine. However, his game tape shows him as a sticky defender who is not often giving much separation.
He may not be ready to start, but he shouldn’t need to in 2025. He can develop and provide solid depth and push Davis in 2026.
Pick: Zy Alexander, Cornerback - LSU
Round 5: Pick No. 144:
Cleveland is calling and looking to move up into the fifth-round. They have four sixth-round draft picks but nothing from No. 104 until No. 179 and are getting antsy. I think I am locked on the same target they are looking to move up and draft.
Cleveland’s offer is their first three sixth-round picks for the fifth-round pick and a seventh round pick. With Cleveland moving on from running backs Nick Chubb and D’Onta Foreman (both are still available in free agency), they need a running back.
Bhayshul Tuten isn’t a big name in the draft but popped at the combine with a 4.32 40-yard dash. He was a two-year starter at Virginia Tech after transferring from North Carolina A&T. However, he is a good receiver and also was a dynamic kick returner.
Running back isn’t a huge need, but adding an explosive player to develop on the cheap is a solid move. I have Tuten with a late third-round/fourth-round grade, so getting him here in the fifth-round is just too good a deal.
Pick: Bhayshul Tuten, Running Back - Virginia Tech
Round 5: Pick No. 171:
This is the “Joe Milton pick”, so the Patriots cannot screw this up. Just for shits and giggles, I am considering grabbing Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard.
However, I haven’t added an inside linebacker yet and Riley Leonard’s Notre Dame teammate Jack Kiser is available. Kiser has seemingly been at Notre Dame forever, and he was a sixth-year senior and is 25 years old.
Kiser is not anything special athletically and has average size. However, his football intelligence is off-the-charts and he should be a Larry Izzo style monster special teams contributor in all four phases as well.
Kiser should contribute at inside linebacker on passing downs and with his special teams value he is a gritty, glue guy who will give his all every time he’s on the field.
Pick: Jack Kiser, Linebacker - Notre Dame
Round 6: Pick: 182:
I am really feeling Riley Leonard here. Seriously.
However, I have my eyes on another player that dropped to the sixth round and that is a giant of a man, defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell. I have already drafted two defensive tackles, but the value here is too much to pass up.
Caldwell played for a pair of Community Colleges before transferring to Houston. Last year he stepped in eating blocks for Oregon. He is strong and can move with a high motor.
Pick: Jamaree Caldwell, Defensive Tackle - Oregon
Round 7: Picks 220 & 238:
This late in the draft, we’re pulling scratch tickets and hoping for a hit. A lot of teams in the NFL find value on the interior offensive line late in the draft, so with that still a need, why not take a shot here?
Joshua Gray was a captain and leader of the Oregon State offensive line and played a lot in college as a five-year starter. He moved inside to guard in 2024 after being a second-team All-Pac-12 at left tackle three times.
At No. 238, why not grab a center to develop behind free agent Garrett Bradbury? Jacob Gideon was All-MAC and a four-year starter at Western Michigan including experience at guard. He is a beast in the running game and needs to add some bulk and refine some pass blocking technique.
Picks: Joshua Gray, Guard - Oregon State
Jacob Gideon, Center - Western Michigan
Draft Results:
7. Armand Membou, OT - Missouri
42. Walter Nolen, DT - Ole Miss
49. Aireontae Ersery, OT - Minnesota
69. Isaiah Bond, WR - Texas
70. Harold Fannin Jr., TE - Bowling Green
77. Darius Alexander, DT - Toledo
81. Jack Bech, WR - TCU
107. Zy Alexander, CB - LSU
144. Bhayshul Tuten, RB - Virginia Tech
171. Jack Kiser, LB - Notre Dame
182. Jamaree Caldwell, DT - Oregon
220. Joshua Gray, OG - Oregon State
238. Jacob Gideon, OC - Western Michigan
Final Thoughts:
Wow, 13 players drafted overall after a number of trades. Realistically, this is a low percentage chance of happening. I don’t see Jacksonville trading up to four for Mason Graham. Neither do I anticipate the Jets moving up for Will Campbell and leaving New England with Membou at seventh overall after collecting additional day two draft capital.
Four picks for the offensive line and three for the defensive line may seem excessive, but both lines need an injection of youth and talent. The Patriots need to move on from the mistakes of the offensive line and inject it with cost-efficient and long-term solutions. The defensive line is talented, but needs depth.
Two rookie wide receivers could be difficult to squeeze onto the roster with two picks made at the position last year (Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker) and two free agents in Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs. Add in Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas as their two most productive receivers last season and veteran Kendrick Bourne, and suddenly the wide receiver position should look very different.
The rest of the picks would bring in some playmakers to grow with Drake Maye and some needed young depth at linebacker and the secondary.
Regrets? Perhaps not adding an edge rusher to generate pass rush. However, the right player was seemingly never at the right spot. Draft history shows that reaching for a lesser player at a position of need instead of a more talented player at another position who is unexpectedly available rarely ever works out.
As predicted, there were numerous players at spots that were unexpected based upon their draft ranking and seemed to be “bargains”. Those players just could not be passed up.
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