The Patriots find themselves in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, though they’ll need some help getting there. We’ll follow along each week for the remainder of the season to see if things change, while also highlighting who/what might be in consideration at their projected pick.
The Patriots couldn’t have had a better week when it comes to positioning, as they moved up a spot while (somewhat miraculously) staying competitive on the road against the Buffalo Bills.
It’s starting to look like they could control the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders went and completely bungled their own chances at the No. 1 pick, sliding all the way to No. 6 and vaulting several teams in front of them — including the New York Giants (No. 1), New England (No. 2) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 3).
New England’s movement into that top-two spot has opened up a wealth of possibilities, whether it makes that pick or not.
New York and Las Vegas are both expected to be in contention for a quarterback, which we touched on last week. The Giants would have their pick between Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward if things hold up the way they currently look, which would allow for one of three scenarios at No. 2.
The Patriots could either take the best player available, target a top option at a position of need or trade back for future capital — three outcomes we’ve seen over the last several seasons. Who exactly could they target that high?
WR/CBTravis Hunter, Colorado
LB Abdul Carter, Penn State
IDL Mason Graham, Michigan
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
OT Will Campbell, LSU
OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Hunter was our selection last week, as there’s little doubt in our mind that he’s the best player in the entire draft. Graham and Carter might be making a push for that spot, but in all reality, the value brought by someone who plays multiple positions at an extremely high level can’t be ignored. The Patriots might not be interested in playing him both ways, and in that scenario, could choose to look elsewhere.
McMillan, Campbell and Banks are the top options at positions of need, but none feel worthy of a top-three pick. New England just needs competence on that offense, though, so maybe it would just take the sure upgrade.
The Patriots are going to trade the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the New York Jets in our latest mock, which allows them to fill a number of needs while missing out on the likes of Hunter, Carter and McMillan. New England also lands first- and second-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which if we know anything about New York, means it will be picking very early.
PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator had Sanders, Ward, Hunter, McMillan, Carter and Graham going early, which essentially left us to pick between Banks and Campbell.
Banks is the pick for us, as he not only fits the mold of what Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf typically looks for, but we’ve seen more of him than Campbell. New England locks in its left tackle for the present and future with this selection, while opening up spots to address other needs later on.
Williams (6-foot-5) and Horton (6-foot-3) would both come in and add some much-needed size at the wide receiver position, while also potentially serving as upgrades on the outside. It’s never a sure thing with wideouts and this club, but two huge guys with decent pedigrees can’t hurt to take a flyer on.
Kennard is one of our favorite players in this entire class, which we touched on a few weeks back on “Foxboro Rush.” It’s hard finding true game-wrecking edge rushers outside of the first round, but he very well could be that guy given his background. Walker is an interior force, which suddenly has become a need with questions about the future of Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale in New England recently coming up.
How do we feel about this mock, Patriots fans?
