There are 10 days to go until the 2025 NFL Draft and projections are starting to settle down when it comes to the New England Patriots’ draft picture.
We don’t know exactly who they’re taking. But at this point, mock drafts across the country are settling in on who could be in the picture at No. 4.
LSU OT Will Campbell, Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter and Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter are the top picks. However, Michigan DL Mason Graham and Missouri OT Armand Membou could also be in consideration.
Who’s picking who? Here’s a rundown of what we’re hearing from mock drafts 10 days out from draft day:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
“Campbell would slide in at left tackle. I’m not overly worried about his 32 5/8-inch arms; he plays longer than that. Campbell can land a quick first punch and use his great overall technique and agility to keep pass rushers at bay. He has 38 games of experience, and pairing him with new right tackle Morgan Moses would buy Maye more time in the pocket.
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
“Carter’s foot situation certainly complicates matters, though I wouldn’t rule him out as a top-three selection here. If he’s healthy, Carter has a chance to be the best pro in this class. Foot injuries are very scary, however.”
Matt Miller, ESPN: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
“Because of their free agency moves, the Patriots have an almost unlimited number of options with this pick. New England would be very lucky to have the Heisman Trophy winner fall to this spot. Hunter would be a day one starter at cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez while working in 10-15 snaps per game in a revived receiving corps that recently added Stefon Diggs.”
Karen Guredian, MassLive: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
“While the Patriots could very well take care of left tackle right out of the gate at No. 4, this assumes they take the best player available – Graham – and check off the tackle box in Round 2 with Conerly.”
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
“Teams are warming up to the idea that Membou could go this high — his tape is good enough; his testing was more than good enough.
That said, he is still just 20 and had to pull out of the Senior Bowl because of an illness, so teams still have homework to do on him. But he is in the mix to be the first offensive lineman drafted.“
Mark Daniels, MassLive: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
“It’s easy to see why the Patriots like Walker. He’s a high-character prospect with defensive versatility. He’s athletic enough to play inside linebacker, outside linebacker, and as an edge rusher. Walker would be a good chess piece for Mike Vrabel’s defense.”
Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (after trading down to No. 9)
“Warren can do it all from the tight end position. … He’s a wrecking ball after the catch, running through arm tackles with ease, and showing off the athleticism that made him an accomplished high school basketball player he goes up to high-point contest targets.”
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
“While taking a left tackle has to be in play given how problematic New England’s current protection plan for Drake Maye looks, Carter would be without peer among the prospects available as a potential game-wrecker for Mike Vrabel and a defense that ranked last with just 28 sacks in 2024.”
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: DL Mason Graham (No.4) and OT Kelvin Banks (No. 24 after trade)
“New England leapfrogs a slew of tackle-needy teams to secure Banks. Having logged 42 starts at left tackle in his three years at Texas, Banks deserves the opportunity to man the blind side in the NFL, even if some project a move to the inside.“
Ben Volin, Boston Globe: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“It’s tempting to take a pass rusher, and Campbell’s arm length is concerning, but at best he plugs the Patriots’ biggest hole (left tackle), and at minimum he’ll be a very good player somewhere on the line.“
Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“The Patriots were very active in free agency, restocking the defense for new coach Mike Vrabel. It’s imperative they provide help for impressive quarterback Drake Maye. Campbell has the kind of makeup that meshes with Vrabel, whether he winds up playing left tackle or kicking inside.”
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“In an ideal world, New England would be able to trade back a bit and still get the left tackle of the future. There is not going to be a rush to climb the draft order with Cam Ward, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter off the board, however.”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“He might never be an All-Pro player, but the Patriots need a left tackle. Campbell has a guard look to me, but for the Pats he would be their starter on the left side. Think a Matt Light type of career.”
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
“The Patriots consider Will Campbell but new head coach Mike Vrabel tips the scales toward Carter.”
Rob Rang, Fox Sports: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
“The Patriots have other bigger needs, but at this point, Hunter is just too good to ignore. He’s the best player in this draft and one of the most unique players I’ve evaluated in 25 years in the business. Mike Vrabel will love Hunter’s instincts and tenacity on defense — almost as much as Drake Maye will appreciate Hunter’s sharp routes and sticky hands.”
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
“Mike Vrabel already added pieces to the defensive front in free agency, but he can’t pass up one of the elite talents in the class.”
Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“The Patriots had one of the worst offensive lines in 2024, and their work on the front five is not done even after making some additions in free agency. They add the best tackle in this draft class to help keep Drake Maye upright as he attempts to improve in Year 2.”
Bruce Feldman, The Athletic: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
“Hunter is the best pure athlete in this draft. He is a rare talent, an elite cornerback who doubles as a dynamic wideout with a gas tank like college football has never seen.”
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“I’m sure the Patriots would be more than happy to trade out of this spot, but this might not be a draft in which teams are trying to move up early on. New England could desperately use help at left tackle and takes a hard-nosed player whom Mike Vrabel should love.”
Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
“Morgan Moses is a solid add for the Patriots, but his presence shouldn’t be considered a deterrent from New England adding a long-term tackle piece.”
Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
“A playmaking receiver might work but you win football games up front and Graham handles things with his strength as the best interior defensive lineman in this draft. His wrestling background helped his development and in the last two seasons he was first-team All-Big Ten.”
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
“Even if he doesn’t blossom into a perennial All-Pro on QB Drake Maye’s blind side, it’s virtually a foregone conclusion that Campbell would excel even if he eventually has to make his professional home at guard.”
Jordan Plocher, Pro Football Focus: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
“New England stays put and gets one of the draft’s few blue-chip players. In 2024, Carter earned a 92.3 PFF pass-rushing grade to go along with 13 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 43 hurries on 352 pass-rushing snaps. The Patriots should be well positioned in the second round to draft an offensive lineman.”
