Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are in the best position of any team for the 2025 NFL Draft, including the Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE — When the New England Patriots won their final game of the 2024 regular season over the Buffalo Bills, it looked as if they fumbled away a golden opportunity. Much to the dismay of Patriots fans, New England’s fourth win of the season meant the team would no longer have the first overall pick […]
NASHVILLE — When the New England Patriots won their final game of the 2024 regular season over the Buffalo Bills, it looked as if they fumbled away a golden opportunity.
Much to the dismay of Patriots fans, New England’s fourth win of the season meant the team would no longer have the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans became the rightful owners of the top pick while the Patriots fell down the board to fourth overall.
At the time, it seemed like a consequential series of events. But as the pre-draft process has begun to play out, I now feel like new head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are in a better position than any other team. That includes the three teams picking above them.
How could that be so? Well, if you ask anyone who has done preliminary research on this year’s draft class, there are four prospects that really stick out above the rest. Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter, and two quarterbacks – Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders – feel like the odds on favorites to go off the board in some order 1-4 that is still unclear.
While the Titans (No. 1), Browns (No. 2), and Giants (No. 3) might have their pick of the litter over New England, the Patriots are in the simplest spot that is impossible to mess up.
The most likely scenario is that both quarterbacks will go in the Top 3. That would leave the Patriots – who have Drake Maye and do not need a quarterback – with one of Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter falling to No. 4. Both of those prospects feel like “sure things” at their respective positions with upside to be franchise-altering players. Easy enough.
Another scenario has a quarterback still on the board when the Patriots are on the clock. If that were the case, the phones in New England would be ringing off the hook with trade offers.
The Raiders (No. 6) are in the market for a quarterback. The Jets (No. 7) are now QB needy after informing Aaron Rodgers that they are moving in a different direction. Even the Jaguars (No. 5) are allegedly considering moving QB Trevor Lawrence. If Cam Ward or Shedeur Sander are still sitting on the board when the Patriots get up to pick, they will probably look to trade down and should be able to get a haul of draft picks to kick off the Mike Vrabel era.
It’s a spot that’s almost impossible to screw up. If you’re the Titans, Browns, or Giants, you have to weigh the value of a particular player with the value of a quarterback. You may have to give up some picks to go get your guy. You may pick the wrong guy. But if you’re New England, you play the board that falls to you and you’re guaranteed to get an elite prospect or a haul of picks in a trade.
In a wild twist of fate, Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are positioned as well as anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft despite losing the No. 1 overall selection in the final game of the season.
Tennessee Titans will entertain trading first overall pick in 2025 NFL Draft, but there’s one option to avoid at all costs
Titans need to avoid this at all costs.
