Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter probably won’t fall to No. 4, but if he does, the Patriots should select him.Scott Taetsch/Getty
The NFL Scouting Combine officially kicks off Sunday, with 329 prospects invited to Indianapolis for pre-draft workouts and interviews.
This year’s class doesn’t boast the same level of star power at quarterback and wide receiver as last year, but it has high-end starters, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. There’s no consensus at the top of the draft order, so the Patriots, who own the No. 4 pick, could go in a variety of directions to address one of their wide-ranging needs.
This week is when teams’ plans can start to crystallize.
Let’s take an early look at the possibilities for the Patriots . . .
⋅ Edge rusher Abdul Carter (Penn State): It’s hard to envision Carter falling to No. 4, but the Patriots should draft him if he somehow does.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 255-pound Carter generated pressure on 18.5 percent of his pass-rush snaps as a senior last season, registering 10 sacks and 24½ tackles for a loss. His incredible explosiveness and body control would be a welcome addition to New England’s ineffective pass-rush unit that finished 32nd in the league in sacks last season.
Carter could go No. 1 overall, which would pair him with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee. Even though the rebuilding Titans need an upgrade at quarterback, the potential of that duo would be tantalizing.
“It’s such a premiere position,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Thursday on a conference call. “When you look at the pieces already on that defensive line and you go out and you get Abdul Carter, I think you’ve got a chance to have one of the best units in the league. That’s a good foundation to build off of.”
Should the Titans pass on Carter, Cleveland would likely scoop him up at No. 2. The Browns also have questions at quarterback, but Carter could fill an important void after star defensive end Myles Garrett requested a trade.
⋅ Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (Colorado): Chances are Hunter will be off the board at No. 4, too.
The 6-1, 185-pound Hunter is one of the more intriguing prospects because of his ability to play on both sides of the ball. He finished with 96 catches for 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior last season, in addition to four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and 36 tackles. His dynamic performance earned several accolades, including the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp award, Paul Hornung (most versatile) award, Fred Biletnikoff (best receiver) award, and unanimous first-team All-America honors.
“Travis Hunter is like someone went to the Philadelphia Eagles, took DeVonta Smith and Darius Slay, spun them around in a circle, and they came out as the same human being,” Jeremiah said. “He’s unique.”
Hunter was on the field for 86.8 percent of Colorado’s offensive snaps and 82.9 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, but it’s doubtful that split can carry over to the NFL. Hunter, who has expressed interest in continuing to play both sides, is listed as a cornerback headed into the combine.
The Patriots are in need of another outside cornerback to play opposite Christian Gonzalez, especially if Jonathan Jones does not return. They could use Hunter’s ball-hawking skills, as well as his offensive play-making in select spots. Hunter led the country with 21 plays of at least 20 receiving yards.
LSU’s Will Campbell looks like the strongest offensive line prospect in the draft.Matthew Hinton/Associated Press
⋅ Offensive tackle Will Campbell (LSU): The Patriots will have to assess whether they want to take the best player available or commit to addressing a glaring weakness.
The 6-6, 320-pound Campbell is the top offensive tackle prospect, yet using the No. 4 pick on him would be considered a slight reach. Perhaps the Patriots could swing a trade to move back a few spots and still draft Campbell. If not, do they still take him at No. 4?
Campbell started 12 games at left tackle last season, allowing only two sacks in 557 pass-blocking snaps. He started 38 games during his three years at LSU, including a 24-game stretch in which he didn’t surrender a sack. That extensive experience against high-caliber SEC talent, along with his strength and agility, make him a compelling prospect.
At the combine, teams will be paying attention to Campbell’s arm length. If the measurement comes in at shorter than 33 inches, some teams would classify Campbell as a guard instead. Tackles can still operate below that cutoff point, but they have to compensate in other areas, such as their footwork.
“If you can touch a guy from a distance, it’s always helpful, like how boxers want to touch a guy from a distance,” said Scott Peters, who is the Bengals offensive line coach after one season with the Patriots. “If you don’t have the length, then you have to have the feet. Ideally, you have both. When you look at the position, for a guy at tackle, I would agree 33 is probably the cutoff point. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s an ideal.
“Given the speed and some of the issues you face with some of these rushers, it’s always beneficial to have guys that are long. There’s a premium on using your hands, using length to attack them as opposed to letting them get into your body.”
⋅ Defensive tackle Mason Graham (Michigan): If the Patriots stay put at No. 4 and pass on Campbell, then Graham likely would be their best option.
The 6-3, 320-pound Graham touts the quickness, experience, and versatility to be an immediate impact player in the NFL. Graham is a dominant force as a run stopper but can also contribute to the pass rush, recording 3½ sacks and nine quarterback hits as a senior last season. His disruptive presence on the interior would complement Christian Barmore — or mitigate an absence if Barmore misses more time with his blood clots.
Graham’s wrestling background is apparent in his playing style, as he was a two-time Trinity League (Southern California) heavyweight champion in high school.
“He’s got crazy, elite leverage, balance, and instincts,” Jeremiah said. “He’s just never on the ground. He gets underneath guys.”
Defensive tackle may not be one of New England’s most pressing needs, but solidifying the trenches would be beneficial.
⋅ Trading back: The ideal scenario for the Patriots is that the stocks of the two first-round quarterback prospects — Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Cam Ward (Miami) — skyrocket. Six of the teams picking in the top 10 have openings at that position.
If two of the three teams picking ahead of the Patriots — Titans, Browns, Giants — decide to draft a quarterback, then New England would be able to take Carter or Hunter.
If one of the teams picking behind the Patriots — Raiders, Jets, Saints — have interest in moving up to select a quarterback, then New England would be able to amass more draft capital. Players at positions of need expected to go later in the first round include wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), and right tackle Armand Membou (Missouri).
Tennessee is open to trading the No. 1 pick, which would have ripple effects on the Patriots.
“Usually, the combine is when you’ll start hearing some buzz if somebody falls in love with a quarterback,” Jeremiah said. “That’s where the trades happen, and that will be interesting. To me, if I’m Tennessee, I’m not going past three unless I get an enormous haul, and I don’t think you’re going to get that in this draft.”
Playing catch-up
Could WR Tee Higgins become a Patriot?
Tee Higgins is the biggest potential name on the WR free agent market.Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
The NFL told teams this past week that the salary cap for the 2025 season will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million. The league and the NFLPA will agree upon the final figure, but the current projection features a significant bump for the second straight year.
The Patriots are expected to have the most cap space in the league, working with more than $125 million. The next closest teams are Las Vegas (approximately $100 million) and Washington (approximately $80 million).
So, how might the Patriots spend their money?
Wide receiver Tee Higgins is the biggest name to watch.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been extremely vocal about keeping the receiving core of Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase together. The cap increase could help the team juggle new deals for Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki, as well as extensions for Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Higgins and Chase now share the same agent, Rocky Arceneaux, which may facilitate negotiations.
The Bengals are slated to have approximately $50 million in room for the 2025 season.
The franchise tag window opened Feb. 18 and will close March 4, so Cincinnati likely will place the franchise tag on Higgins if it is unable to sign him to a long-term contract before the deadline. Once Higgins is on the tag, the parties have until July 15 to reach an extension for the upcoming season. The tag would eliminate the possibility of Higgins outright signing with another team when the league’s negotiation period begins at noon March 10.
If they are unable to come to an agreement, then Higgins will play on a one-year deal worth a minimum of $26.2 million or request a trade.
Other wide receivers scheduled to become unrestricted free agents include Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, and Chris Godwin. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Godwin is the youngest of the bunch, but coming off a dislocated ankle suffered in Week 7 last season.
Premier wide receivers rarely hit free agency. New England’s poor draft history at the position, coupled with the franchise’s decline in recent years, has now put the Patriots in a situation where they may have to overpay lesser talent to rectify previous personnel mistakes.
The 26-year-old Higgins is the best of the bunch, but, if he does become available, are the Patriots willing to offer him a contract with an annual value of $30-plus million? That seems unlikely, even given their salary cap space and the state of their receiver room.
Pursuing a trade seems like a better — and more realistic — use of resources. Deebo Samuel and Cooper Kupp are expected to be moved, while D.K. Metcalf is another player to watch. The Patriots need to bolster their receiver room, ideally with both a reliable, productive veteran and a young star.
Beyond wide receiver, the Patriots desperately need to shore up their offensive line. The team re-signed center Ben Brown and tackle Demontrey Jacobs, but the roster still lacks at least one starting-caliber tackle (two if you keep Michael Onwenu at right guard).
The Patriots should commit significant resources to signing a veteran tackle. Ronnie Stanley is the best option and should be atop their list. The 30-year-old Stanley bounced back to play all 17 games in 2024 after missing time with injuries in each of the previous four seasons.
There are also a couple of free agents with ties to the new coaching staff. Offensive line coach Doug Marrone was Jacksonville’s head coach when the Jaguars drafted left tackle Cam Robinson 34th overall in 2017, while Mike Vrabel worked with tackle Jedrick Wills during his season consulting for the Browns last year.
Extra points
Mike Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will speak at the combine. Vrabel is on the schedule for 10:15 a.m. Tuesday and Wolf is on for 1 p.m. Wednesday. Last year marked the first time in nearly a decade that the Patriots had a representative speak at the combine, as former coach Bill Belichick typically opted against it . . . Coming off an eventful week in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson continued their slew of public appearances by attending the 4 Nations Face-Off final at TD Garden Thursday . . . The NFL announced Wednesday the league will return to Brazil next season, with the Chargers slated to play Friday night of Week 1 at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo. The Patriots, who have played an international game in back-to-back seasons, have two possibilities to go abroad next year: London against the Jets or Madrid against the Dolphins. The league will reveal the matchups in May . . . While in Indianapolis for the combine, the NFL will host its ninth annual women’s forum — a program designed to connect teams with 40 qualified women interested in scouting, coaching, data and analytics, and other areas of football operations. All teams have engaged with the forum in some capacity, with 29 hiring past participants. There are currently 15 full-time female coaches on NFL staffs.