It’s starting to seem like an actual chance that the New England Patriots will earn the No. 1 decide within the 2025 NFL Draft.
We’d have to look at 4 extra months of swill for that to return true, however the actuality of the scenario is it might enable New England to make a significant improve at one, if not a number of, premium positions.
It’s not all dangerous.
We’re totally conscious that the draft isn’t for an additional six months, but it surely’s by no means a foul time to disregard the present product this staff is placing on the sphere. In case you’re taken with keeping track of the long run all through the remaining weeks of this abhorrent season, be certain that to have these particular prospects in thoughts.
OT Will Campbell (LSU)
The Patriots don’t simply want an offensive deal with, they want one who will increase the play of everybody round him and who excels in nearly each part of the place. Campbell is that man.
Story continues beneath commercial
It’s broadly anticipated that he’ll be among the many first gamers off the board this coming April, as his mix of steadiness, power and agility make him one of many extra polished prospects we’ve seen on the place in a number of years. LSU has beloved this man ever since he stepped foot on campus, making him a right away starter and ultimately slapping a “7” patch on his jersey, symbolizing him because the staff’s high playmaker from the state of Louisiana. New England is anticipated to have choices with its decide, however none can be a better promote than Campbell.
OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
Campbell or Banks? The Patriots simply might need to reply that query in a number of months, because the latter has slowly performed into dialogue of being the primary deal with off the board.
Banks has by no means missed a begin throughout his three seasons, and has solely allowed one (sure, one) complete strain this season. Professional Soccer Focus ranks him within the 98th or 99th percentile in each general move blocking and zone run blocking, which is what the Patriots have desperately been attempting to implement over the previous few seasons. New England actually wouldn’t thoughts including some nastiness, and Banks can present that after which some, however there’s an absence of polish that can should be labored on — which would offer a check for offensive line coaches Scott Peters and Robert Kugler.
OT Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)
Milum is a consultant of the second, or perhaps even third, wave of offensive tackles that can come off the board in April. The Patriots are so dangerous they may think about taking a couple of, although, so it’s value looking on the second- or third-round guys.
Story continues beneath commercial
Milum ought to be capable to compete for a beginning job straight away as a rookie, and in a world the place New England feels assured rolling with Vederian Lowe at left deal with, the teen can be an appropriate possibility to return in on the suitable facet. What would they do with their first-round decide in that state of affairs?
CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)
The Patriots would take the very best participant within the draft, that’s what they’d do.
Hunter is third within the nation in catches (46) and eighth in receiving yards (561), all whereas recording two interceptions, three move breakups, a game-winning pressured fumble and permitting simply 81 yards and nil touchdowns on protection via six weeks — enjoying in 620 of 689 complete snaps. He’s the very best participant within the nation, and has made it doable for Deion Sanders to start turning round one of many worst packages in faculty soccer in Colorado.
New England doesn’t essentially want a cornerback, which shall be his major place, however Hunter’s means to play each methods at an all-world degree is one thing we actually haven’t seen this millennium. He simply would possibly be too good to move up.
Story continues beneath commercial
WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
New England ought to prioritize investing within the offensive line early, however there’s loads of choices for the membership to “weaponize the offense” within the center rounds. Egbuka, for example, would be the most polished vast receiver prospect accessible and it’s broadly anticipated that he slides out of the primary spherical.
Egbuka has spent 4 seasons in Columbus, Ohio, and though he’s routinely performed second, third, fourth and even fifth fiddle to the likes of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and now Jeremiah Smith, there’s little doubt he’s bought what it takes to be a premiere slot possibility within the NFL. The Patriots may use an improve at nearly all of their receiver spots, and Egbuka’s mixture of measurement and flexibility will surely assist.
TE Gunnar Helm (Texas)
The Patriots want to start out trying into tight finish upgrades. Hunter Henry was prolonged this previous offseason, however issues are beginning to look bleak on the subject of discovering his eventual alternative. Austin Hooper is someway not as outdated as you’d suppose, however nonetheless is nearly 30, whereas Jaheim Bell has made minimal enhancements since being introduced in as a seventh-round decide and shouldn’t be relied upon to ultimately fill these sneakers.
Story continues beneath commercial
Helm is one possibility that could possibly be accessible on Day 3, and would instantly add a degree of athleticism that New England’s tight finish room hasn’t had in years. He can leap over dudes, so the cool issue is there, too.
TE Bryson Nesbit (UNC)
Talking of cool…
How cool would it not be to reunite Drake Maye with one in every of his favourite faculty targets in Bryson Nesbit? The Patriots in all probability need a tight finish with extra polish, however he’s a superb athlete and has the scale to enhance as a blocker.
LB Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU)
New England didn’t tackle the defensive facet of the soccer final season, but it surely could possibly be afforded a possibility to steal one hell of a participant in 2025.
Story continues beneath commercial
Perkins suffered a season-ending knee harm a number of weeks again, and there was already concern that he was too small (6-foot-1, 225 kilos) to play off the sting on the subsequent degree. The Patriots may take full benefit of a crappy actuality and take Perkins, probably the most versatile linebackers within the nation, within the second or third spherical and unleash him in a hybrid function, although. You’ll be able to’t watch him, however don’t neglect the title.
LB/S Sonny Kinds (Ohio State)
Kinds is likely one of the most gifted defenders within the nation, and we’re going to make use of this platform to spotlight him heading into the second half of the common season. The Patriots may actually play him anyplace from security, to linebacker, to defensive finish — and if there’s a coach that may be infatuated with the prospects of doing one thing like that, it’s Invoice Belichick.
Jerod Mayo in all probability wouldn’t thoughts discovering a spot for him, both, although.
Story continues beneath commercial
