Patriots draft preview - Rounds 2 & 3
Round one of the 2025 NFL draft is in the books and what a wild night it was!
Nah not really, save for the Jags trade, Shedeur falling, and the Falcons being morons again it was a pretty uneventful night.
From the Patriots perspective, things unfolded pretty much as expected — Will Campbell at #4, no trade up into the late first.
My reaction
I’ll echo a lot of what I said yesterday. Will Campbell was the right pick in a less than enviable spot. The two blue chip talents were gone thanks to Mayo being too spiteful to throw in the towel, so we picked the best player at a massive position of need.
Campbell isn’t a flawless prospect, but he’s big, tough, nasty, and team above all else. He proved as much in his post draft interview. Trigger warning: you will weep beautiful tears:
I mean, how can you not root for a guy like that? Bottom line is we needed a big boy on the left side to protect Drake and we got it. If this guy doesn’t succeed, it won’t be for a lack of effort.
Overall, happy with it. It was the safe, smart move.
Draft grade: B+
Oh and I immediately DM’d him:
Is it weird in hindsight that I’m DMing 21-year-olds I don’t know? Maybe. But he’s my Chase Utley:
Round 2 & 3 preview
The one good thing about a draft like this, is that while it lacks premier top end talent, there’s a LOT of second tier really good players available.
As a result, there are several intriguing options that will be available to the Patriots in the second and third rounds. Because there is less predictability here, I’ll list out my ideal pick at #38, then every player who I view as acceptable for our three, day two picks:
Ideal pick at #38: Luther Burden III
I’ve gone back and forth on this, but ultimately determined that the kid would be a great pick here. He was a super highly rated recruit and can flat out play. Get him in space and forget about it. Gets hard yards after the catch, leaving much less chance of one of our other idiots fumbling a drive away.
Might have to trade up to get him which is fine by me.
Other acceptable picks at #38 (in order)
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College — I’m biased given his alma mater but this dude can flat out play. We haven’t sacked a QB in 8 years or so and he led the country in sacks last year. Seems like a perfect match.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio St — Wouldn’t have any other RB this high in a draft with as much depth as this one, but I believe that strongly that this kid is a star. Explosive, speedy, everything you could want in a featured back. If wideouts and edge players are lacking when we get to #38, I’d pull the trigger.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa St — Learned about this guy when I bet against Iowa State and wondered why no one could cover this guy named after Christmas. Super shifty wideout who gives defenses trouble. He’s more of a slot guy which we have a thousand of, but you can’t get cute with fit. Just take talent.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa St — You’d think the Cyclones would have been better last year with two elite wideouts. Big bodied kid, certainly fits a need on the outside. Would be happy with this pick, but also conscious that if we pick one of the ISU guys, the other one will be a superstar.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan — We don’t really need a corner but I had this dude earmarked for the top ten so I’ll take it. I don’t care about some mystery injury.
One of these guys is guaranteed to be there at #38 so I look forward to welcoming whatever guard we draft from BYU.
Acceptable picks at #69 (nice) and #77
I have a long list of guys that I would be happy taking here, but for the sake of time and our franchise, I’m going to short list a few guys that play positions of need and would be tremendous adds at these picks. Here they are, listed in order of preference in their respective categories.
Offensive line
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota — Not willing to take another tackle at #38 but have no problem double dipping in the third if he’s somehow still there
Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia — Willing to guarantee this guy will be a perennial Pro Bowler
Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College — Biased again, but he’ll be a bookend tackle on the right side for ten years
Jared Wilson, C, Georgia — Am I crazy about a center this early? No, but I can live with it given how shitty we are at everything to do with blocking.
Miles Frazier, G, LSU — Geaux Tigers
Honorable mention: Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue
Wide receiver/tight end
If we get Burden this list will likely be irrelevant but who knows. We need playmakers desperately.
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU — Maybe we just do all LSU guys? Beats our usual strategy. This kid isn’t Gronk but he’ll be a damn good NFL tight end.
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington St — Huge steal if he slips this far. Been a popular riser in draft circles.
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Honorable mention: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami — probably a reach but I like him as one of those 8 catches for 70 yards/game guys
Running back
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa — Work. Horse. If he’s there and you don’t have a back, don’t hesitate.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee — Absolute beast. Potential steal at the right price.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio St — Don’t love him as much as his OSU teammate but he’s a home run hitter who immediately makes our RB room better. Got a Key n Peele ahh name too.
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona St — Love a bowling ball back. Would be a fan favorite immediately.
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
Honorable mention: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
Defensive tackle/Edge
Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo — Zero chance he’s there in the third. Might not be there at #38 honestly
JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio St — Give me anyone on OSU’s defensive line. Disruptive as shit.
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas — Athletic freak.
Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss — Super explosive, absolute menace on the edge.
Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio St — No idea why he’s this undervalued. Love the pick in the third.
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina
Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
There you have it, Patriots. Pick from this list and only this list please. Trust me, I promise I know better than you.
If I were in the draft room, these would be my ideal, realistic scenarios:
Scenario 1:
#38 — Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
#69 (lol) — Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia — Cause he just looks like a 69 guy
Editors note: I swear when I wrote this I didn’t know he actually wore #69. Draft this guy at #38 for all I care, just get him here.
#77 — Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Scenario 2:
#38 — TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
#69 (lol) — Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College
#77 — Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss
Scenario 3:
#38 — Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
#69 (lol) — Kyle Williams, WR, Washington St
#77 — Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona St
Excited to pick none of these guys! See you tomorrow for more reaction and a day 3 preview.
