The Patriots enter the 2025 offseason with glaring needs throughout their talent-shallow roster, but four positions specifically need to be addressed.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden need to replenish the roster at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive end and defensive tackle.
The 2025 NFL Draft is considered deep at defensive end and defensive tackle, but it’s shallow, especially near the top of the first round, at wide receiver and offensive tackle.
The Patriots currently hold the fourth overall pick in the draft, though they could try to trade down to acquire additional draft capital to fill more needs.
Here are 11 prospects to watch at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine that the Patriots could select anywhere from the top of the first round down to the top of the second round, where they pick 39th overall.
The Patriots could not pressure the quarterback last season, and one team source believed talent was the biggest issue. It didn’t help their pass-rush when Matthew Judon was traded before the season — though it was a smart move to pick up an extra third-round pick in the deal — and Christian Barmore missed most of the season with blood clots and didn’t look like his typical self when on the field.
Vrabel and new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams are set to run a new attacking style of defense, and it would be ideal to have an explosive edge-rusher like Carter who also possesses the versatility to play off the line of scrimmage as a linebacker.
The biggest question is whether he’ll be there at fourth overall. It would likely require two quarterbacks to go off the board within the first three picks for the Patriots to have any chance of landing Carter.
If we were to stretch the list of needs to to five positions, then cornerback would likely come next. Christian Gonzalez is fantastic, but he needs a running mate to play across from him.
It’s probably a little early at No. 4 overall to take a cornerback, but Hunter’s ability to fill a need at wide receiver makes him worth the pick.
If the Patriots were to land Hunter, they would have to decide exactly how to utilize him. Is he a cornerback who can play a third-down role at wide receiver? Or is a wide receiver who can play a third-down role at cornerback?
The Patriots need him more at wide receiver, but he’s considered a better prospect at cornerback. He also might not be there at No. 4 overall.
One of the more popular Patriots mock draft picks, Graham would fill a massive void in the middle of the defensive front and put less pressure on Barmore’s return from blood clots.
Graham is 6-foot-4, 320 pounds and flashed impressive production in Michigan’s defensive front. He’s an elite run defender who can also disrupt in the passing game.
Left tackle is by far the Patriots’ biggest need entering the offseason, and there’s no guarantee they can fill it in free agency with Ronnie Stanley, Cam Robinson, Alaric Jackson and Dan Moore Jr. as the best available options.
So, Campbell, who displayed an elite level of play in the SEC, should be an obvious choice in the top five, right?
Campbell’s short arms don’t provide him the elite length that most teams look for out of a left tackle, and there’s a belief among some analysts that he might be a better fit at guard.
If the Patriots don’t mind Campbell’s length, then he could be the pick at No. 4 overall. But it would be viewed by some as a reach.
Walker hasn’t received the same level of hype as the first four players on this list, but he’s been a recent riser among draft analysts.
Similar to Carter, Walker can play as an edge defender or linebacker. That type of versatility is valued in Vrabel and Williams’ defense.
The top wide receiver in this year’s draft, McMillan probably is not worth a top-five pick. But he would be an ideal candidate if the Patriots were to trade down.
The Patriots need an “X” wide receiver, and the latest reporting suggests Tee Higgins will be franchised by the Bengals. McMillan has some Higgins-esque qualities in the draft.
He actually had a better season in 2023, catching 90 passes for 1,402 yards with 10 touchdowns. He still dominated in 2024 with 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight scores.
It will be difficult to add a true game-changing wide receiver in free agency because the options are so limited. If Higgins isn’t available, then the Patriots’ next best options are players like Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins.
Golden is likely to go off the board sometime late in the first round or early in the second round. He has inside-outside versatility and caught 58 passes for 987 yards with a conference-leading nine touchdowns in 2024.
Another wide receiver with inside-outside versatility, Egbuka is an option in a trade up from No. 39 overall. He had two 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown seasons during his time with the Buckeyes.
Vrabel, an Ohio State alum, knows the program well.
Simmons is a potential fit for the Patriots in a trade back up from the top of the second round into the bottom of the first round. His redshirt junior season ended prematurely due to a knee injury.
The Ohio State product would be the Patriots’ best chance of landing a starting-caliber left tackle outside of the top 10 picks.
A left tackle for Oregon, Conerly is among the top blockers the Patriots could land if they stay put at No. 39 overall. He had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl and would be a quality pick if the Patriots go with a defender in the first round.
There are a number of options at defensive end the Patriots could take around their second-round pick. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Vrabel tap from the BC well, since he has such a strong relationship with Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien.
Ezeiruaku led the ACC with 16.5 sacks as a senior in 2024. Vrabel previously had success taking defensive end Harold Landry out of BC.