The New England Patriots have a huge off-season ahead of them, with Free Agency as well as the NFL Draft. With Head Coach Mike Vrabel, and coordinators in place, what could their Draft class look like? The main goal of the NFL Draft is getting good football players in the building, and with that being said, here is my first Patriots Mock Draft of the off-season.
Round 1, Pick 4: Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State
Abdul Carter is considered to be the second best prospect in this Draft class behind Travis Hunter. So when it comes to getting good football players in the door, the Patriots should jump at the chance to get Carter to New England. Carter is an explosive pass rusher, that shows off elite athleticism. He is truly the definition of a game breaker, and for a New England defense that rarely rushed the quarterback in 2024, Carter would be a massive addition. Not to mention the fact that new Patriots defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams, stated he loves violent football players. There aren’t many players that are more violent than Carter. Having a game wrecker that can disrupt some of the league’s best opposing quarterbacks, would be huge for a Patriots team hoping to get back into playoff contention.
Round 2: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
With New England’s second round pick, they select offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon. A huge priority this off-season should be protecting franchise quarterback, Drake Maye. Conerly has good size and impressive athleticism, which would be perfect for a blind side protector. Conerly is rapidly rising up Draft boards, which could have him selected far before this pick, so don’t rule out a potential trade up from this pick, so New England can make two first round selections in April. This would allow them to secure two big time talents that could make immediate impacts in 2025.
Round 3: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Matthew Golden is a prospect that has had some serious buzz over the last couple weeks. His emergence in the College Football Playoff showed how dangerous he can be as a weapon. Many predictions state that he will go much higher than the third round, however, if the Patriots can maneuver around the Draft board, don’t rule out Golden landing in Foxborough. He’s a smooth route runner that will threaten the defense every time he is on the field, and New England fans should be very excited if they land him in April.
Round 3: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
As of today, New England has two third round picks, thanks to the Matthew Judon trade earlier this year, which would allow them to pair two Texas playmakers in Foxborough. Tight end Gunnar Helm has shown he can be a threat in the receiving game. He could turn into a true safety blanket for Drake Maye, and slowly take over Hunter Henry’s role in the offense. If Helm is available, the Patriots shouldn’t hesitate to take another weapon for Drake Maye.
Round 4: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
With their fourth round pick, New England decides to get some help in the secondary. They already have their lockdown, number one corner in Christian Gonzalez, however, getting a player like Cobee Bryant as a secondary option could be incredibly beneficial to the defense. With Gonzalez locking down opposing number one receivers, it would allow Bryant to be more of a ball hawk. At six feet tall, he has long arms that could be very helpful at the next level. The pairing of Gonzalez and Bryant could bring back the no fly zone in Foxborough.
Round 5: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
With the return of Josh McDaniels as the Patriots Offensive Coordinator, it’s likely we see a return to the power run game. Ollie Gordon didn’t have a very good year this past season, but the year prior he was considered one of the best backs in the country. With the coaching of McDaniels, could fans see Gordon return to his old self? If that is the case, then Gordon could end up being the steal of the Draft, and have a huge career in New England. Selecting him in Round five also isn’t too much of a risk here.
Could this potential Draft class make an immediate impact in 2025?
If New England’s Draft class looks like this, fans should be very excited for the future. By securing a possible franchise left tackle, the most elite pass rusher in the entire class, and some serious weapons, New England could see themselves getting back to their winning ways sooner than they thought. Each one of these players has the ability to get on the field right away, and develop into cornerstones of the franchise. Overall, the Patriots need to get good football players on the roster, and the Draft is the best way to do that.
