Miami QB Cam Ward’s professional day leaves no doubts about No. 1 NFL draft decide
Cam Ward is feeling assured after his professional day efficiency. He tells the media why he thinks he would be the primary general draft decide in April.
The New England Patriots’ first season within the post-Invoice Belichick period didn’t go because the group had hoped. That led proprietor Robert Kraft to make some drastic selections concerning the path of the franchise.
Rookie head coach Jerod Mayo was fired lower than a 12 months after being named the group’s successor to Invoice Belichick. Former Patriots participant and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was employed to switch him and switch round a group that went 4-13 whereas sporting one of many NFL’s least productive rosters round rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
The Patriots have spent the offseason utilizing their abundance of wage cap house so as to add expertise to their roster. New England made made signings at every degree of the protection whereas bringing in veterans at receiver and alongside the offensive line that ought to improve Maye’s supporting solid.
Nonetheless, the Patriots have loads of work to do to enhance their roster. Vrabel and common supervisor Eliot Wolf can have loads of assets with which accomplish that aim within the draft, the place New England is armed with the No. 4 general decide.
This is a take a look at what the Patriots may do with every of 9 seven choices within the 2025 NFL draft.
If both Carter or Travis Hunter makes it to the Patriots at No. 4, they are going to take one of many two blue-chip abilities on this 12 months’s class. On this case, Carter – who has drawn comparisons to fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons – would companion with Harold Landry to invigorate a Patriots cross rush that generated the fewest sacks league-wide final season (28).
Carter had an FBS-high 24 TFL final season to go together with 12 sacks. He’s hyper-productive, supremely athletic and the has the flexibility wanted to play on the sting and as a stand-up linebacker.
The Patriots had the worst sort out state of affairs within the NFL final season. They signed Morgan Moses to function a stopgap at proper sort out however want to seek out an improve over Vederian Lowe on the left facet of the road.
Ersery strikes properly contemplating his huge 6-foot-6, 331-pound body and is a robust blocker. Whereas many view him as extra of a proper sort out prospect for the NFL, the 23-year-old was a three-year starter on the left facet. The Patriots can strive him there first and see if he can maintain up on Maye’s blind facet.
The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs in free company however want so as to add extra expertise to encompass him after Ja’Lynn Polk’s disappointing rookie season.
Royals posted 126 catches for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns over his last 20 video games at Utah State. The 6-0, 205-pound cross catcher has nice physique management and good palms, which ought to make him a powerful possession receiver on the NFL degree.
Sure, the Patriots may – and doubtless ought to – double dip at extensive receiver. Concentrating on extra of an explosive velocity menace to pair with Royals could be sensible.
Williams did not run the 40 a lot sooner than Royals – the Washington State product did so in 4.4 seconds flat – however his deep separation abilities are higher. He earned him a Marvin Mims Jr. comparability from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, so it is simple to think about the 5-11, 190 pounder making an affect alongside Royals.
The Patriots will virtually actually double dip on the offensive line as properly. They should enhance their general depth on the unit whereas discovering some potential starters, and Jones qualifies.
Jones performed proper sort out for 3 seasons at LSU, so the 21-year-old may very well be developed as Moses’ successor. He may additionally battle for the group’s left guard job, as he has the requisite dimension (6-5, 315 kilos) and athleticism wanted to play guard. Kicking inside may assist mitigate his lack of ability to persistently stayed balanced in cross safety on the sting.
The Patriots stay financially dedicated to Rhamondre Stevenson, however he averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry final season. He might even see an uptick in manufacturing behind a greater offensive line, however discovering a greater velocity complement to him may go a great distance towards supporting Maye.
Tuten ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.32 seconds on the NFL mix after totaling 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries for the Hokies final season. The 5-9, 206-pound again additionally has strong receiving abilities, so he ought to have the ability to carve out a task in an NFL rotation, supplied that his fumble price – 10 on 406 profession touches at Virginia Tech – would not land him within the doghouse.
The Patriots added Milton Williams to their defensive position in free company however want so as to add additional depth in case Christian Barmore’s blood clotting situation causes him to overlook extra time.
Robinson could be an skilled pickup after he spent six seasons with the Cornhuskers. He recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2024 however persistently generated TFL all through his profession (27 in 60 video games). The 6-5, 288-pound defensive lineman performs with a relentless motor and physicality, so it is simple to think about him shortly endearing himself to Vrabel.
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are each 30, so the Patriots could wish to add some younger depth to compete with Jaheim Bell behind the veteran duo.
Lachey comes from an Iowa program that has generated many high tight ends on the NFL degree, together with George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson. Lachey is not the identical caliber of prospect because the duo, however contemplating his tutelage and bloodline – he is the son of three-time Tremendous Bowl champion offensive lineman Jim Lachey – the Patriots may do worse of their seek for a third-string tight finish.
The Patriots signed Garrett Bradbury to a one-year deal to fill in because the group’s beginning heart. They might stand so as to add a top quality backup to compete with Ben Brown and 2023 fourth-round decide Jake Andrews.
Kendall is one other participant with NFL bloodlines, as his father Pete was a first-round decide by the Seattle Seahawks within the 1996 NFL draft and performed 13 seasons. The youthful Kendall began 37 video games at heart at Boston School. His expertise and method ought to permit him to carve out a task as an NFL backup.
Add in that Kendall overlapped for a season at Boston School with Vrabel’s son Tyler and there may exist familiarity between the coach and prospect.