10 standouts from NFL Combine who could make sense for Patriots in 2025 NFL Draft

Posted by author March 2, 2025 NFL

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There weren’t any major records broken this year, but several prospects stood out.

Texas’ Matthew Golden is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

By Conor Roche

March 2, 2025 | 5:56 PM

6 minutes to read

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books.

Several of the top prospects didn’t participate in any of the drills over the weekend, including Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. But another potential Patriots draft pick had a notable weekend.

LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell’s arm length was measured smaller than what he likely hoped. However, he helped make up for it by running a 4.98 40 and putting up strong numbers in other athletic testing drills.

As Campbell had a mixed weekend, let’s look at 10 other prospects who had a strong workout in Indianapolis who would make sense for the Patriots to select in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Missouri OT Armand Membou

If Campbell’s arm length measurement opened the door for another prospect to become the top offensive tackle in the draft class, Membou took advantage. His 4.91 40 was the best among offensive tackles. His 34-inch vertical was the third-best among tackles and his 9-foot-7 broad jump was also tops among all offensive linemen.

In terms of measurements, Membou is a bit smaller in height than Campbell, standing at 6-foot-4. But his arm length is a bit longer: 33.5 inches.

The biggest concern with Membou is his positional experience. He only played right tackle at Missouri, starting for over two seasons. But, he dominated at that position, allowing just three sacks over that time, including zero this past season.

Ahead of the draft, Membou was a fringe top-10 to middle of the first round pick in most mock drafts. Now, it seems like he could be in play at No. 4 for the Patriots.

Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart

Quite possibly no player had a better week in Indianapolis than Stewart. The Texas A&M product tested incredibly well, running a 4.59 40 (fourth-best among edge rushers), posting a 40-inch vertical (second-best at position), and a 10-foot-11 broad jump (best at position) after measuring at 6-5 and 267 pounds. With that testing at his size, Stewart was one of two prospects to receive a perfect relative athletic score (RAS) of 10.0.

Stewart’s strong week was much-needed to help solidify his standing as a first-round prospect. He didn’t put up the strongest numbers at Texas A&M, recording just 4.5 sacks during his three seasons at College Station. But he also had a whopping 38 pressures and a strong 12.5 pass-rush win rate, showing that he can shed blockers.

It doesn’t seem like Stewart will be an option for the Patriots with the fourth pick. But if they opt to trade down toward the 10th pick, he could be a candidate if they’re looking to add a strong pass rusher.

Texas WR Matthew Golden

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond said he was going to break the 40 record set by Xavier Worthy at last year’s combine. No one broke that record, but another Longhorns receiver ran the quickest 40 at the position on Saturday. Golden’s 4.29 40 was the quickest among all wide receivers.

Golden didn’t participate in any other athletic testing drills outside of the 40. However, his time could wind up boosting his stock. He had a big year at Texas in 2024, recording 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. Golden was a late first-round pick in most mock drafts ahead of the combine, so the Patriots might have to either trade up from their second-round pick to get him or he could be their pick if they opt to trade down from the No. 4 pick.

Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins

Judkins displayed the size and speed of a potential lead running back during the combine. Measuring at 6 feet, 221 pounds, Judkins ran an impressive 40 (4.48) and had the best broad jump (11 feet) among running backs. His vertical (38.5 inches) was also top five at his position, giving him the third-best RAS (9.88) among running backs.

Entering the week, Judkins seemed to be a Day 2 pick, with the question being which round will he be selected in. The Patriots might have to snag him up with their early second-round selection if they want him after the day he had Saturday, putting up strong athletic numbers after being a strong performer at Ole Miss and Ohio State over the last three seasons. He rushed for 1,060 yards on 5.5 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns with the Buckeyes in 2024.

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

Nobody ran the 40 faster than Hairston this weekend. The Kentucky prospect ran a 4.28 in the drill on Friday, but he also impressed in the vertical and broad jumps. His 39.5-inch vertical was the second-best mark among corners while his 10-9 broad jump was the third-best mark at the position.

Hairson’s strong testing numbers will certainly add to his case to be one of the first few corners taken in the draft. He was productive at Kentucky, recording five interceptions in 2023 before missing nearly half the 2024 season due to a shoulder injury. Most mock drafts had him as a late-first round, early-second round pick prior to the combine, so he could be in play for the Patriots at No. 38.

Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson

Jackson was one of the biggest and most athletic prospects during the combine. The Arkansas standout measured at 6-6 and 264 pounds before posting a 4.68 in the 40, a 40.5-inch vertical (best at position), and a 10-9 board jump. While Jackson might not be as athletic as Stewart, he still posted a 9.88 RAS.

Jackson has mostly been an early-second round pick in mock drafts after recording 49 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble to go with 31 pressures in 2024.

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

Following an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, Higgins was able to carry the momentum into the combine. He checked the boxes to be a boundary wide receiver in terms of physical tools and athletic traits at the combine, measuring at 6-4 and 214 pounds. He ran a 4.47 40, a good time for a player his size, and had a 39-inch vertical. That combination of size and athleticism earned Higgins a 9.87 RAS, which was the best among the receivers who competed in Indianapolis.

Higgins used that size to make contested grabs at Iowa State and during the Senior Bowl, 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns this past season. Most mock drafts have him as a Day 2 pick, with his day on Saturday potentially pushing him into Round 2. His Iowa State teammate Jaylin Noel also had a strong day, running a 4.39 40 as he could also be a Day 2 pick.

Jayden Higgins scored a 9.87 out of 10.00 on his RAS Score.

He ranked 46 out of 3,408 WR’s from 1987 to 2025 (Per: @MathBomb).

Notable Information:

➖94th Percentile Height (6’4)
➖96th Percentile Arm Length (33”)
➖94th Percentile Speed Score (111.6)

A true X Wide Receiver pic.twitter.com/VW6eVDrV7o

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 2, 2025

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten

If the Patriots aren’t looking to make too big of an investment at running back in the draft, Tuten emerged as a strong candidate to be an early Day 3 pick. The Virginia Tech product ran the fastest 40 (4.32) and had the best vertical (40.5 inches) among all running backs. He was also tied for the second-best broad jump (10-1) at the position.

Tuten is a smaller back at 5-9 and 206 pounds, so he might not be an ideal lead back. But he’s been productive at Virginia Tech, recording 1,159 rushing yards on 6.3 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns last season. He also had 27 receptions for 239 yards in 2023, potentially making him a receiving option in the NFL.

Iowa State CB Darien Porter

Hairston was a hair quicker than Porter at the 40 as he ran a 4.30 in the event, but the Iowa State product tested out as the better athlete between the two. At 6-2, 195 pounds, Porter earned a 9.99 RAS due to his 40 time, 10-11 broad jump, and a 38.5-inch vertical.

Porter has mostly been included as a Day 2 pick in mock drafts ahead of the combine. The fifth-year senior had three interceptions this past season, allowing just five receptions on 17 targets, per PFF.

Georgia C Jared Wilson

Wilson put up one of the best athletic displays ever for a center in the history of the combine. The Georgia product had the best 40 time among all offensive linemen at this year’s event, running a 4.84. He also had the best broad jump (9-4) among all centers to go with a 32-inch vertical. At 6-3 and 310 pounds, Wilson posted a 9.98 RAS, the second-best score ever for a center.

If the Patriots are looking for David Andrews’s heir apparent at center, Wilson would be a good candidate. He didn’t allow a sack over 12 games in 2024 to be named second-team All-SEC. He’s been projected as a late Day 2, early Day 3 pick.