Drafted third total in 2024, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye wants weapons and higher safety to thrive. Necessary Credit score: David Butler II-Imagn Photos New England is again within the high 5 for the second consecutive draft after a stretch of 15 years between top-10 choices ended with third total decide Drake Maye in 2024.
With the quarterback place apparently locked down, all of the Patriots need to do is … work out practically every little thing else.
Mike Vrabel was employed and modifications are afoot for the Patriots with a 3rd head coach in three seasons following a 3-14 end in Jerod Mayo’s solely season on the helm.
Some scheme modifications are predictable and there are gifted holdovers in place past Maye.
New England additionally spent willfully to reel in defensive sort out Milton Williams (Eagles), huge receiver Stefon Diggs (Texans), cornerback Carlton Davis (Lions), proper sort out Morgan Moses (Jets), inside linebacker Robert Spillane (Raiders) and outdoors linebacker Harold Landry (Titans) to start re-stocking crucial positions.
Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL and the working sport flatlined late within the 2024 season. Further playmakers on both facet of the ball and assist in the trenches are high objects left on the crew’s buying checklist coming into the draft.
The wrestle for proprietor Robert Kraft and Vrabel is trusting Eliot Wolf will make the precise name after whiffing on each draft decide after Maye in his first draft final April.
–Group wants
Left sort out: Discovering Maye his Matt Mild (Tom Brady’s ultra-reliable left sort out for 5 New England Tremendous Bowls) ought to be the primary order of enterprise, regardless of how devoted Wolf is to following the best-player-available mantra within the draft.
Outdoors linebacker: New England traded away Matthew Judon — and maintain the 77th decide on this yr’s draft in return — after which had solely 28 whole sacks final season. Patriots opponents had 51. Landry rejoined Vrabel as a succesful go rusher however he isn’t a participant opponents fear about due to his velocity or electrical first step.
Tight finish: Josh McDaniels is again (once more) as offensive coordinator and his choice of a two-tight finish base formation would require a sidekick for veteran Hunter Henry, who tied for the crew lead with 66 receptions in 2024.
–Best prospect suits
OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
CB-WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
OT Will Campbell, LSU
OT-OG Armand Membou, Missouri
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
WR Jack Bech, TCU
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
–2025 draft picks by spherical
Complete picks: 9
By spherical (decide in spherical, total decide)
1: 4, 4
2: 6, 38
3: 5, 69
3: 13, 77 (from Atlanta Falcons)
4: 4, 106
5: 6, 144
5: 35, 171 (from Dallas Cowboys)
7: 4, 220
7: 22, 238 (from Los Angeles Chargers)
–History Lesson
–The final time the Patriots chosen a defensive lineman within the first spherical was 2015 (Texas DT Malcom Brown, thirty second total).
–New England has drafted six whole huge receivers previously 4 drafts.
–Discipline Stage Media
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