Would Patriots exec Eliot Wolf consider trading down from No. 4?(Nick O’Malley, MassLive)
By Nick O’Malley | [email protected]
The 2025 New England Patriots finally look like they’re coming together. Now, if they can just ace the 2025 NFL Draft, they can hit the ground running with their rebuild under Mike Vrabel.
New England has already rebuilt its defense, signed a right tackle and added a top wide receiver in Stefon Diggs. Now, the discussion is whether to take one of this year’s top talents or to draft for need and take a tackle.
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In this mock draft, I have the board falling perfectly for the Patriots to do one of those things — before trading down to do the opposite.
That’s right. Bill Belichick may be gone, but the threat of trading down remains.
2025 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Full Round 1 Projection
1) Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
This pick is locked in for me. I’m convinced that any other info that comes out is a smokescreen.
2) Browns – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Whenever in question, I always bet on teams doing something crazy and reaching for a quarterback. This would cause high drama in Cleveland, which means it’s even more likely to happen.
3) Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
New York doesn’t necessarily need a pass rusher. But Carter might be the top overall talent in this draft. This is purely a “best player available” pick.
TRADE: 4) Cowboys – Travis Hunter CB/WR, Colorado
That’s right. The board falls perfectly for the Patriots. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is right there — a unique two-way player with unlimited potential.
Then New England trades down and lets him go to America’s team. Going by the old Jimmy Johnson trade chart, the Patriots could grab a second-rounder and third-rounder this year — or a first-rounder next year by trading down.
Unlikely? Maybe. Teams may not be clamoring to trade up for quarterbacks like they were last year. But a talent like Hunter could someone pull an aggressive move.
Plus, it’s been a while since Jerry Jones has done anything crazy. I think we’re due.
5) Jaguars – Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Graham is a menace and could help Jacksonville create a vicious defensive front.
6) Raiders – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Previously, I’ve had a receiver going here. However, this class appears to have lost some of its shine. I think Johnson will be a stud.
7) Jets – Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
Membou has been rocketing up mock drafts in recent weeks, to the point where he’s now in the conversation for the first offensive lineman taken.
8) Panthers – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Carolina needs help on the edge. Walker is the latest in a long line of Bulldogs who can help there.
9) Saints – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Barron has been quietly flying up draft boards. He could be a low-key great pick for New Orleans.
10) Bears – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Ben Johnson did some awesome things with Jahmyr Gibbs, another running back taken early. Adding Jeanty to the Bears offense would add all sorts of excitement.
11) 49ers – Shemaur Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
San Francisco really needs some help to rebuild its defense. Stewart would be a great piece to add opposite Nick Bosa.
TRADE: 12) Patriots – Will Campbell, OL, LSU
This is what I think is the best-case scenario for New England: landing a left tackle of the future while still securing future draft picks.
If the Patriots front office pulled this off, it would be the best Boston draft-day coup since the Celtics traded down and still landed Jayson Tatum.
Hunter would be an incredible asset for New England. But what the Patriots need more than anything is a major overhaul of their roster. The best way to do that is to trade down, get extra picks and get more rolls of the dice to try and add talent.
Could they get a future first-rounder by trading down this far? Going by the draft value chart, it’s possible.
Campbell falling to No. 12 isn’t likely. I’ll admit that much. He was a stud left tackle since he was a freshman for the Tigers and dominated throughout his college career.
But recently, the debate over his wingspan has been a major talking point. Meanwhile, other prospects have been rising.
Listen, the Patriots are in dire need of a left tackle, and those guys don’t grow on trees. I think Campbell, even with his warts, provides a major upgrade at the Patriots’ weakest position.
It doesn’t hurt that Vrabel spoke pretty highly of Campbell Monday.
13) Dolphins – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Emmanwori is an underrated prospect who could turn into a versatile menace in Miami’s secondary.
14) Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Tight ends tend to fall a bit when it comes to draft value. Warren would be a great pick for Indy if he’s still on the board here.
15) Falcons – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Well, the Matthew Judon trade didn’t work for Atlanta. Time for them to try again to add a pass rusher.
16) Cardinals – Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas
Whether Banks is a guard or a tackle, he would provide some much-needed offensive line help in Arizona.
17) Bengals – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
It’s unclear whether Cincinnati will manage to hold on to Trey Hendrickson. It would be prudent to start preparing for a future without him.
18) Seahawks – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
This year’s wide receiver class is weird. For a while, Tretairoa McMillan appeared to be the top pure receiver. But I think Golden and his 4.29 speed will give him the edge on draft day.
19) Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Every year, it feels like taking a linebacker from Alabama is a solid pick.
20) Broncos – Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
Burden feels like one of those guys who will turn into a star once he hits the NFL. I think he’s underrated as an explosive player.
21) Steelers – Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
I have no idea what Pittsburgh’s plan is at quarterback. This is my best guess so far.
22) Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
In a loaded tight end class, Loveland presents great value at this point to give a consistent target to Justin Herbert.
23) Packers – Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon
Conerly is a prospect with strong physical traits who could use some development at the NFL level. But his potential is high.
24) Vikings – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Hairston isn’t a guy who was on my radar early in the draft process. But after running a 4.28 in the 40 at the combine, he’s firmly entered the first-round conversation.
25) Texans – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Simmons might have been the top tackle in this class if not for suffering a major knee injury last year. If he comes back healthy, he could be a steal.
26) Rams – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
L.A. doesn’t have a big need at receiver, but McMillan falling this far presents fantastic value — even with Davante Adams replacing Cooper Kupp.
27) Ravens – Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Baltimore lost guard/tackle Patrick Mekari in free agency. Time to reload up front.
28) Lions – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Green is an explosive prospect who played for a smaller school. He’d be awesome playing under Dan Campbell.
29) Commanders – Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Washington filled a lot of needs in free agency this offseason. Adding Ezeiruaku could help them round out that defense.
30) Bills – Kenneth Graham, DL, Michigan
Buffalo already signed Joey Bosa. If this defense added Graham, they’d have the makings of a monster front.
31) Chiefs – Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
Yes, this is a big run on defensive linemen. But this is a strong class for that position. For teams picking at the end of round one, it’s good to draft value. That’s what guys like Harmon provide here.
32) Eagles – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Philly swoops in at the end of Round 1 to take yet another star defender from the Bulldogs.