The Patriots head into a draft where they have a great opportunity to add talent following a productive free agency for head coach Mike Vrabel, EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, and company.

My preconceived notions about the 2025 NFL Draft at the beginning of the process were that this was a weaker rookie class. Mostly, drafts are labeled "weak" when there's a lack of blue-chip talent in the first round, particularly at the quarterback position. Although that's true to some extent this year, I've come to appreciate this draft for what it is: a starter draft, not a star draft, with starter-level talent at certain positions into day three.

From this perspective, those are the best kind of drafts. Sure, the first-round picks get the most attention. But the deeper you dive into this crop, the more excited you get about the players New England could target as the team with the fourth-most draft capital to spend, including four draft selections inside the top-77 and five picks in the top-106.

League executives often say that they make their money on days two and three. It's one thing to make the right pick in the first round, but there are hidden gems to be had in a year like this. The draft is particularly deep at EDGE, running back, defensive tackle, tight end, and cornerback. The wide receiver class has also gotten a bad rep because it lacks top-end talent, but there are intriguing day-two, early-day-three prospects and a group of left tackles with starter potential, as Vrabel said in his pre-draft press conference. If you only analyze the options in the top 10, you'll probably come to the conclusion that it's a down year for the draft. However, the Patriots should be able to add multiple contributors.

Without further ado, here's my final attempt at a seven-round Patriots mock draft.

First Round, Fourth Overall - OT Armand Membou, Missouri

Although my Pats draft compass could be pointing in the wrong direction, my gut says New England's decision at No. 4 overall will come down to this: Hunter, Carter, or the best left tackle available. They could surprise me with Jalon Walker or a complete wildcard selection. But the need for a starting left tackle coupled with the talent leveling off after Hunter and Carter makes me think the Patriots will take the top left tackle on their board.

Assuming that Hunter and Carter are off the board, it comes down to Will Campbell (LSU) vs. Armand Membou (Missouri). I've already planted my flag on Campbell as my top left tackle in this draft in mock draft 2.0, but we'll make the case for Membou here because it is worth discussing. In some ways, Membou is a cleaner projection because he is not a statistical outlier in terms of arm length (33.5 inches) and wingspan (82 inches) while he still tested as an elite athlete like Campbell, ranking 16 among 1,502 OTs since 1987 in relative athletic score (9.90).

As a compact, explosive mover, the 6-foot-4, 332-pound Membou is a high-end run blocker. He has excellent range at the position to hook the frontside end in outside zone, can reach backside cutoff blocks, combo-up to the second level, and finishes in the run game. Membou also doesn't beat himself in pass protection with technically sound pass sets, setting inside-out and using efficient bursts out of his stance to cut off the angle to the quarterback. From a technical standpoint, Membou could use his length better to keep rushers out of his chest and needs to avoid overshooting his landmarks, opening the backdoor as a run blocker. However, that's coachable for a prospect who's still only 21 years old.

Membou will also need to transition from right tackle to left tackle in New England. That's not a small thing, so there's some risk, but there's also precedent. The closest comparison from a measurables standpoint is Bucs All-Pro Tristan Wirfs. Wirfs was a college right tackle who didn't transition to full-time left tackle until his fourth NFL season. That's a high bar to set for Membou, but the Missouri product has the talent to be a long-term starter at the next level.

Second Round, 38th Overall - WR Kyle Williams, Washington State

My view on the Patriots approach at wide receiver is that it's worth throwing another dart at elevating the talent level of the room on day two, even if that player might not be a savior. Until the Pats have a legitimate supporting cast around QB Drake Maye, continuing to add talent and upside at the position makes sense from this perspective.

Although this may feel early for Williams to some, the Washington State product could be higher on teams' boards than the media boards. Williams is an explosive three-level separator who posted an elite 89.9 grade vs. man coverage, added 8.4 yards after the catch with big-play potential on underneath targets, and is one of the draft's best separators. He can stack defenders on vertical routes on the outside, break off intermediate wins on snappy blaze outs and hinge routes, or create first-level separation on quick hitters. Williams solidified himself as a day-two prospect with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at 5-10, 190 pounds. He has game-breaking potential in a similar mold as Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman.

Third Round, No. 69 Overall - RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Continuing a theme of improving Drake Maye's supporting cast, the Patriots have hinted during the pre-draft process that they'll target a running back at some point. Based on reports, the Pats have hosted several running backs on visits, while Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft hinted at a "speed back" being on the docket for New England at the league meetings.

Given their reported pre-draft interest, Sampson seems to check the most boxes as a day-two pick. The Tennessee product has homerun speed confirmed by a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. He's also a highly efficient and effective runner between the tackles, using sudden jump cuts to find clean entry points into the line of scrimmage with a good feel for setting up his blocks and has a knack for short-yardage duties with 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024. The Vols don't use their backs much in the passing game, but Sampson has the skill set to be a productive pass-catcher in the NFL. The 20-year-old is one of "my guys" in this draft as a change of pace pairing with Rhamondre Stevenson.

Third Round, No. 77 Overall - EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

Next, the Patriots could add depth and developmental upside by tapping a stacked group of edge rushers in this year's draft. With free-agent additions Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson added to the mix, New England can lean into the fact that the draft has a plethora of options on the edge by waiting a bit to dip into the talent pool. Giving Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams a toolsy prospect with a high ceiling to coach up is enticing.

As a 21-year-old who began his college career playing inside linebacker, Oladejo is scratching the surface of his potential as a rush linebacker. He combines an explosive first step with an aggressive downhill trigger and a red-hot motor that was on full display at the Senior Bowl. He can also drop off the line into coverage thanks to his linebacker background, where he shows a good understanding of spacing in his zone drops. With his explosiveness, power, and attack-minded approach, Oladejo fits the mold for a Patriots defense that wants to play more aggressively under Vrabel. The Pats coaches have a history of developing defensive linemen, so it would be fun to see what they could do with the UCLA product.

Fourth Round, No. 106 Overall - DL Joshua Farmer, Florida State

Speaking of toolsy prospects that Vrabel and Williams can develop, Farmer is a quick-twitch mover off the ball with 35-inch arms (94th percentile) who can play various alignments in a three-point stance. The 22-year-old can play as a base end or reduce inside in passing situations to use his quickness on guards. He can win with power in the pass rush and press-and-shed-off blocks, showing good secondary rush effort to fight through layers. Farmer is still developing his anchor and pad level to unlock his power fully, but again, the right coaching staff could turn him into a starting-caliber pro based on his flashes and measurables.

Fifth Round, No. 144 Overall - OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M

The Patriots return to bolstering the offensive line by selecting a standout HBCU product who impressed during Senior Bowl week against NFL-caliber competition. Vinson had standout reps vs. Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart, a projected first-round pick, in Mobile. He has the experience (48 starts at LT), play demeanor, measurables (6-7, 314 lbs, 34.5" arms) and fluidity out of his stance to square-up edge rushers on an island. There are several technical areas that need to be cleaned up, such as Vinson's upright playing style and erratic hand placement in the run game. However, the A&M product is a solid developmental tackle for a team that needs to build its depth at OT.

Fifth Round, No. 171 Overall - TE Thomas Fidone, Nebraska

Fidone is one of my favorite sleepers in this year's loaded tight end class. The 22-year-old is likely a mid-to-late day three pick because he tore his ACL in his left knee in consecutive seasons (2021-22). However, Fidone finished his time at Nebraska with 25 straight games without injury. The Nebraska product posted a 9.49 relative athletic score with an above-average 4.70-second 40-yard dash. Fidone's straight-line speed allows him to separate from man coverage on crossers or run the seam, while he also has terrific ball skills to finish through contact or adjust to off-target throws. Plus, there are solid run-blocking flashes when kicking out defensive backs or climbing up to the linebacker level. Fidone is a worthy day-three flier as a developmental tight end.

Seventh Round, No. 220 Overall - C Eli Cox, Kentucky

In our final mock draft video on Patriots YouTube, I had the Pats taking a quarterback here (Kurtis Rourke, Indiana). Although it's still possible they'll add a quarterback after trading Joe Milton, Vrabel's comments in his pre-draft press conference about not having enough reps to develop Milton make you think they'll add a UDFA to be a camp arm rather than using a draft pick on a QB. Instead, we'll pivot to adding a center.

The Patriots have veteran Garrett Bradbury penciled in as their starter center for the 2025 season, but the long-term outlook at the position remains uncertain. After a deep dive into the center class, Cox stood out due to his athleticism (9.90 RAS), finishing ability in the run game, and foot speed to mirror interior line stunts. The Kentucky product's play strength and movement skills are enough to make an NFL roster, especially in a downhill gap scheme.

Seventh Round, No. 238 Overall - K Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State

Lastly, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer told reporters that the Patriots will add a kicker to compete with John Parker Romo this summer. Fitzgerald has a draftable grade due to his consistency and ability to make field goals from 50-plus yards, including a 59-yarder vs. Georgia Tech last season. He has the leg power to drive the ball through Foxborough winters.

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