Photo by Michael Woods / AP Photos
This evening, the NFL Draft for the 2025 season will officially begin. The rebuilding New England Patriots have the number four overall pick in this year’s draft, and what they do here will be telling of what they aim to do as a franchise going forward.
The Patriots also have a pick in the second round, and two picks in the third round, giving them four picks in the top 100.
The 4th Overall Pick
It seems all but inevitable that Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter will be taken in the top three, leaving the Patriots to take short-armed tackle Will Campbell.
As I’ve stated previously, I’m indifferent to this selection at four. In an ideal scenario, the Patriots could trade back a couple of spots, get more draft capital, and still take Campbell at a more reasonable place for a guy of his talent.
Unfortunately, after the big three of Cam Ward, Abdul Carter, and Travis Hunter, most experts believe that there isn’t any talent in the first round that is eye-popping enough to trade up for.
So, let’s say the Patriots ultimately take him at four. The ‘pros’? Campbell is a tough, gritty kid that had experience playing against SEC-level competition and has proven success.
The ‘cons’? Campbell’s narrow wingspan is lower than the typical threshold for an offensive lineman to have success at tackle in the NFL.
I believe Campbell is good enough that he won’t be a bust, but he may have to shift to guard. And should we really be celebrating the Patriots taking a good guard with a top 5 pick?
As a believer in Vrabel and his new regime, I really hope they can figure it out with Campbell at tackle. Another season with an offensive line like they had last year might send Drake Maye into the emergency room.
The Remaining Picks in the Top 100
These picks need to all be offense, preferably offensive line and wide receiver exclusively.
Bold take, but I would have three of the Patriots’ top four picks be on the offensive line. That position group was so bad all around that they need a lot of depth.
I am also a believer that they need to build this team from the inside out, and having good receiver talent will mean nothing if Maye has no time to throw. Plus, the more guys you take at a position, the more likely you are to hit on a star.
That leaves one pick in this batch of four in the top 100 for them to try and land a decent receiver.
To put it bluntly: the Patriots haven’t hit on a top receiver in the draft in DECADES. No, I am not counting college quarterback Julien Edelman, who is more of a success story with player development than he is as a receiver pick.
Thankfully, the Patriots have Mike Vrabel and his underlings calling the shots this year. WHat worries me, however, is Elliot Wolfe STILL being in the building despite having a historically bad offseason last year.
Let’s not forget that Wolfe played a big part in drafting Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. And those two players look like, for lack of a better word, bona fide scrubs.
Plenty of star receivers have been taken in the mid-rounds, like Amon-Ra St. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, and several more. Perhaps a player like Savion Williams from TCU, a 6’5”, 225-pound athletic freak, could be the perfect sleeper pick in the draft that could be a deep threat for Maye to throw to.
What are your predictions for the NFL Draft tonight? Comment below and let us know!
