New England Patriots 7-Round Mock Draft: Patriots surround Drake Maye with playmakers, boost struggling defense
With the end of the NFL season nearing, plenty of teams are already eliminated from playoff contention and are looking forward to draft season. One of those teams is the New England Patriots. Despite some competitive games from the offense, the Patriots are set to finish with a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. […]
With the end of the NFL season nearing, plenty of teams are already eliminated from playoff contention and are looking forward to draft season.
One of those teams is the New England Patriots. Despite some competitive games from the offense, the Patriots are set to finish with a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, they absolutely nailed their selection of quarterback Drake Maye in last year's draft. Their goal moving forward is to continue building around him, as his film is incredibly impressive for a rookie and he has all the makings of a franchise quarterback.
New England Patriots 7-Round Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 3: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
There are going to be fans who only want this pick to be an offensive lineman, but unfortunately, there's just not a tackle worth this selection. There's certainly no lineman in general worth taking over Travis Hunter here either.
For New England, Jonathan Jones is set to be a free agent, and given his recent regression, I doubt he will be retained. The Patriots need a corner opposite Christian Gonzalez, who has already developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Adding Travis Hunter gives them the best young cornerback duo (and maybe the best duo outright) we've seen in some time.
It helps that Hunter can moonlight and add some playmaking to their offense as well. New England just needs talent and Hunter is the best player in the class.
Round 2, Pick 39: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
New England's wide receiver room is somewhat better than I think people give it credit for, but it's still far from an average room in the NFL. Pop Douglas is an effective slot receiver and I'm still willing to bet on Ja'Lynn Polk after a disappointing season, but they are missing a difference-maker on the perimeter in their offense.
Ayomanor's stats don't jump off the page, but that's a product of his surroundings and not his talent. He's a terrific height/weight/speed prospect who is also in contention for best route runner in this wide receiver class. He would quickly become a go-to weapon for Drake Maye and help open up the field vertically for the Patriots' offense.
Round 3, Pick 70: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
New England's lack of a pass rush has been the Achilles heel of their defense all season long. They are 28th in the NFL in sacks, 31st in quarterback hurries and pressures, and 30th in pressure rate on the season.
They won't solve it immediately in one draft, but adding a terrific player like Donovan Ezeiruaku would go a long way in getting there. He's likely a pure subpackage rusher to start off his career, but Ezeiruaku boasts arguably the most extensive pass rush moves of any rusher in this class. He would immediately boost the potential of their pass rush right away.
Round 3, Pick 80: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
This might be too low for Charles Grant when the draft process is over, but Grant is an excellent fit for the Patriots' offense. He is a terrific mover in space and boasts excellent length (35 5/8 inch arms). He'll have a chance to prove himself against top competition at the Senior Bowl in January, but Grant has the tools to be a quality starting tackle in the NFL.
Round 4, Pick 106: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Bryce Boettcher might be the most intriguing linebacker in this class. A former defensive back turned linebacker, Boettcher also plays centerfielder for the Oregon baseball team and was actually drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB Draft.
New England needs to add more reinforcements to their linebacking room. Boettcher's athleticism and coverage upside are traits that the Patriots need in their linebacker room.
Round 5, Pick 142: Yayha Black, DT, Iowa
For decades, the Patriots have prided themselves on their run defense, but their defensive line, particularly the middle, hasn't lived up to that standard this past season.
Yayha Black is a mammoth of a nose tackle prospect who would immediately solve their run defense as a plug-and-play nose tackle.
Round 7, Pick 220: Ethan Downs, EDGE, Oklahoma
Much like the Yayha Black pick, this one is all about boosting their run defense on the edges.
Downs is closer to an average athlete, but he is a high-motor player and an excellent run-defender who would be a key part of their rotation on the outside of the defensive line.
Round 7, Pick 222: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
The Patriots love to run different personnel groupings, but Austin Hooper is set to be a free agent. Time to add a younger and more dynamic version in Eli Stowers.
Round 7, Pick 234: Myles Hinton, OT, Michigan
New England continues to throw investments into their offensive line, this time taking a mammoth of a man in Michigan's Myles Hinton.
Hinton is an excellent athlete for his size (6'6 342). He's played multiple positions for the Wolverines in his career, but was Michigan's best offensive lineman this season at left tackle. He would be an intriguing developmental swing lineman who could play both tackle and guard spots.
