The Patriots began the 2025 NFL Draft by fortifying the trenches in the first round by selecting LSU OT Will Campell with the fourth-overall pick on Thursday night.
New England matched a major need with one of the best players available on the board with Campbell. After ranking 31st in pass-blocking win rate and 32nd in run-blocking win rate last season, the Patriots had to upgrade the talent level of their offensive line. With a thinner group of starting-caliber left tackles this year, it made sense for a tackle-needy team like New England to get its blindside protector for second-year QB Drake Maye with its first-round pick.
To further the point, two offensive tackles that the Patriots could've targeted with the 38th overall pick went at the backend of the first round: Josh Conerly (Commanders) and Josh Simmons (Chiefs). Then, the Texans are sitting at 34th overall at the top of the second round with a huge need for an offensive tackle. Sure, the Pats could've traded back into the first round to jump Washington (No. 29) or Kansas City (No. 32), but we've seen it's a dice roll to bank on a trade-up coming to fruition. At some point, the Patriots had to find a sure thing at left tackle, which they hopefully did on Thursday night by selecting Campbell.
Now, the attention turns to a critical day two of the draft. At No. 4 overall, New England had to feel like they were getting a good player in the first round. Personnel executives make their money finding hidden gems on days two and three, especially in a draft like this that is considered deep but not necessarily stacked with blue-chippers at the top. After filling their most glaring need in the first round, the Patriots could lean into the positions of strength in the draft, which are considered to be the defensive line and running backs. However, there are also several enticing pass-catchers that could upgrade Maye's supporting cast. Overall, the good news is that there's great talent still available, with the Patriots picking sixth in the second round (No. 38) and again at No. 69 and No. 77 in the third round, giving New England three picks on day two of the draft.
Here are my best players available for the Patriots heading into day two of the 2025 draft.
WR Luther Burden, Missouri
Round Projection: Top 50, Pro Comparison: (big) Zay Flowers
Burden is a first-round talent still on the board due to some statistical regression in his true junior season and concerns about how he handled himself last season. He has jitterbug quickness to separate at all three levels and elude tacklers in space, is a double-move artist, and creates big plays on crossers and slot fades. Burden was also a young breakout star at Missouri. The 21-year-old ranks in the 94th percentile in breakout age after posting 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns as a true sophomore. If he's still on the board at No. 38, it'll be interesting to see how the Patriots feel about drafting an undeniably talented receiver like Burden, who has some questions about his football character.
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Round Projection: Top 50, Pro Comparison: Harold Landry
Although he's longer than the Patriots veteran, Ezeiruaku comes from the same school, rushes with a similar style, and tested similarly at the NFL scouting combine as Landry. Ezeiruaku posted an elite 8.12 relative athletic score in Indianapolis, coupled with ranking second in the NCAA with 16.5 sacks in his final season in Chestnut Hill. He's a twitched-up rusher who wins with a great blend of first-step explosiveness, excellent bend, and smooth changes of direction, which was confirmed by a 6.94-second three-cone (91st percentile). There will be some questions about his size (248 pounds) and play strength vs. the run, but Ezeiruaku is a well-schooled, explosive rusher.
RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Round Projection: Top 50, Pro Comparison: Breece Hall
Henderson could go too early for the Patriots to draft a running back, but his skill set is intriguing. Along with Hall, there are shades of Jahmyr Gibbs in his game. The Ohio State product is a loose, explosive mover with breakaway speed. He's a blur in the open field with the ability to destroy pursuit angles, while also having the smoothness to change directions as a ball carrier and receiver. Henderson will be at his best in a platoon as a change-of-pace back, where his dynamic play speed will make him one of the most dangerous players on the field. Pairing him with Rhamondre Stevenson was too enticing to leave Henderson off my board.
EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Round Projection: Top 50, Pro Comparison: Melvin Ingram
Scourton is a compact, high-motor, versatile rusher with great power and playmaking instincts. His effort and finish will surely get him on the Patriots board. He's got the ability to convert speed to power, good initial quickness for his size to slip into gaps, and a deep pass-rush toolbox with a wide variety of counter moves. Scourton's inside spin move shouldn't be slept on, and neither should his ability to read blocks and navigate the trenches in the run game. His quickness and power will also make him an impactful rusher over the interior. There are more dynamic speed rushers on the edge than Scourton. But he's a savvy player with set it and forget it reliability in the run and pass game.
WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Round Projection: Day Two, Pro Comparison: Tyler Lockett
The next "my guy" on the list is often called the other Iowa State wide receiver, but he's higher in my rankings than his teammate, Jayden Higgins. Noel is a great downfield separator as a speed slot with 9.75 RAS and a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. He makes crisp, efficient cuts to create separation and has vertical wins on deep posts, crossers, and slot fades. Noel is a precise route-runner against man and zone coverages with a great athletic profile, which is why I'm so high on him. Noel is the one I'm betting on being the Ladd McConkey of this draft.
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Round Projection: Day Two, Pro Comparison: Michael Pittman Jr.
Higgins is a big possession receiver who can win on in-breakers and above-the-rim contested catches on the outside. He can also use his speed for cleaner vertical wins as a big slot. The 6-4, 214-pound receiver is at his best crossing defenders' faces on slants or finding soft spots in zone coverages. But he does have some trouble creating separation, especially on vertical routes in isolation as an outside/X receiver. Higgins doesn't always play to his 4.47-second timed speed, with inconsistent releases off the line to beat press coverage. He'll eat up cushion versus off-coverage for wins at the first two levels, and again, he can stretch the seams/threaten on posts as a big slot. In many ways, he's similar to Tet McMillan. He's not as dynamic after the catch as McMillan, but Higgins is a day-two version who wins in similar ways.
EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
Round Projection: Top 50, Pro Comparison: Whitney Mercilus
Speaking of dynamic speed rushers, Umanmielen is one of my guys. His first step challenges the edge on every rep and builds speed as he gets into his second and third steps to turn a tight corner with excellent closing burst to finish sacks. Umanmielen's dip-rip rush is a foundational move, and he'll complement that with a nasty inside spin move and long arm. The Ole Miss product's performance vs. Georgia last season had it all (two sacks, six total pressures). Umanmielen looks like a great fit in Vrabel's aggressive defense as a rush end.
T/G Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Round Projection: Day Two, Pro Comparison: Peter Skoronski
The Patriots selected Campbell in the first round to fill their need at left tackle, but if they want to really strengthen their offensive line, they could target Milum to play left guard. Milum is a power-oriented college left tackle who will likely move inside to guard. Due to his 32 ⅛-inch arms, Milum practiced on the interior at the Senior Bowl, where teams view his NFL future. Milum has the play strength to generate movement on down blocks and double teams, the athleticism to pull and climb to the second level, and good upper-body power to torque defenders out of gaps. As a pass protector, his quick strikes can end reps quickly, and he has a stout anchor to handle power. Milum's skillset is conducive to playing in a phone booth. He projects nicely into the tackle-to-guard pipeline that's blossoming in the NFL and could be a day-one starter for the Patriots at left guard.
DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
Round Projection: Day Two, Pro Comparison: Keion White (at DT)
Alexander is an explosive interior penetrator who fits the aggressive mindset that the Patriots are trying to instill in their defensive line. As a run defender, the Toledo product is at his best going through blockers' edges into the backfield as an interior battering ram. Alexander has a few go-to moves in the pass rush that give him a nice foundation. The 24-year-old has an effective long arm/bull rush and pairs that with a well-timed swim move. Alexander is an older prospect who is still refining his technique to reach his ceiling. His anchor/power is inconsistent due to his shaky pad level, and he'll get caught battling with blockers rather than finding the ball. Still, the Pats want defenders who fit an upfield scheme, and Alexander has the traits to thrive in a Vrabel defense.
WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
Round Projection: Day Two, Pro Comparison: Rashod Bateman
There's a lot of late buzz about the Washington State wideout, one of the draft's best separators. Williams is more about creating separation than running precise routes, but his blend of speed (4.4s) and suddenness allows him to win in multiple ways. He has a great release package to stack press-man corners on the outside, as his tape is littered with completed go balls in isolation. He can also set up defenders for route breaks on blaze outs and has plenty of burst after the catch to turn underneath targets into big gains. Williams needs to cut down on drifting out of his horizontal breaks and is an older prospect (23-year-old rookie). But he's among the best pure separators in this year's receiver class.
Other Remaining Players From Lazar's Patriots Big Board
- EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
- OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
- TE Mason Taylor, LSU
- DT Alfred Collins, Texas
- EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
- CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
- RB Devin Neal, Kansas
- TE Gunnar Helm, Texas
- RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
- EDGE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
- WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
- EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
- RB R.J. Harvey, UCF
- EDGE Barryn Sorrell, Texas
- OT Charles Grant, William & Mary
- TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
- DT C.J. West, Indiana
- RB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
- DL Joshua Farmer, Florida State
- OT Anthony Belton, NC State
- RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
- RB Brashard Smith, SMU
- C Drew Kendall, Boston College
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
