If the season ended a week ago, the New England Patriots would have held the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. But then they knocked off the Chicago Bears on the road and moved down multiple spots from the top of the board.
The 2025 draft isn’t as loaded with talent as the 2024 draft was with stars like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Marvin Harrison Jr. That isn’t to say the upcoming draft class won’t be a good one when looked back on years down the road.
On paper, however, premium picks aren’t likely to be viewed as lucrative as they were in 2024. Remember when the Patriots wanted “a bag” for the No. 3 overall pick, which they used to draft rookie quarterback Drake Maye? They likely wouldn’t be able to demand such offers in 2025.
Weaker drafts make trading down the smarter option for teams. It’s better to get multiple darts to throw at the board instead of relying on one throw to hit the bullseye. That was the thinking in this way-too-soon three-round 2025 NFL mock draft for the Patriots.
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The Patriots traded the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft to the Seattle Seahawks for the No. 15 pick, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick.
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell would have been a nice grab, but there’s another strong first-round option at that position. The Patriots could have also taken Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, but the line of thinking here is the team lands a big-time receiver, such as soon-to-be free agent Tee Higgins, in free agency.
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Kelvin Banks Jr. is arguably the best offensive tackle in this draft. Forget about a No. 1 receiver if the offensive line can’t protect Drake Maye up front. Banks has incredible awareness and elite pass-blocking skills to help keep Maye’s jersey clean. Every franchise quarterback needs a dependable left tackle, and Banks could be that for Maye right out of the gates.
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The Patriots could use another physical outside cornerback to play opposite of Christian Gonzalez. Jonathan Jones has given the team a lot of great years at the position, but he’ll be turning 32 years old next season. It’s time to get a younger defensive back with some size and a physical style to his game. Both of those things come packaged in the 6-foot-4, 190-pound body of Tacario Davis.
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The Patriots could use some youth at the tight end position. There’s hope that Jaheim Bell can develop into a playmaker for the team, but he can barely get on the field right now. It wouldn’t hurt the Patriots to take another potential playmaker with Penn State’s tight end Tyler Warren, who can block and serve as a serious mismatch as a receiver. This is the kind of all-in-one skilled player the Patriots need to follow in the footsteps of Hunter Henry.
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Derrick Harmon is an impressive athlete with the ability to line up in various spots along the defensive front. He’s explosive out of his stance with the power and agility to get around blockers or shove them aside to pressure the quarterback. This is a young rotational option with a high upside at the NFL level.
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Tate Ratledge is downright nasty in the trenches. He’s a high-motor player with the size, strength and hand-fighting abilities to neutralize powerful defenders. He projects as a right guard, but he’s versatile enough to play both sides. So if the Patriots decide to kick Mike Onwenu back in at right guard, Ratledge would have no issues playing on the left side.
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The Patriots love their linebackers, and Utah’s Lander Barton was one of the best players available on the draft board. He’s one of the hybrid playmakers at the position that are more prevalent in today’s NFL. There’s the ability to play in a phone booth and crash down on ball-carriers, but he truly excels in coverage situations on defense.
