The Head Coach of the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel, was in attendance at the Ohio State Pro Day this past week. Ohio State is predicted to have the highest number of players drafted in 2025, and for good reason. The reigning National Champions are absolutely loaded with talent, and clearly the Patriots want a first hand look at the Draft eligible players. Who are some names to watch out for that Coach Vrabel will be keeping a close eye on?
Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver
The Patriots recently added free agent receiver Stefon Diggs to their roster, and that shouldn’t hold them back from adding another playmaker to grow and develop with Drake Maye. Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, fits that role perfectly. Egbuka is a true coverage reading technician. He is great at finding soft zones in the coverage and moving the chains. Egbuka could be a true security blanket for Drake Maye, while Stefon Diggs dictates opposing coverage and demands attention. This would allow Egbuka to expose favorable matchups and turn into one of the more reliable slot receivers at the NFL level.
Josh Simmons, Offensive Tackle
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Josh Simmons (71) competes during the first half of the LifeSports spring football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
One of the more interesting prospects for the Patriots in the 2025 Draft is offensive tackle, Josh Simmons. Simmons missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury, however, before he got hurt, he looked like he could be the best offensive linemen in the nation. The Patriots desperately need a left tackle, and if Simmons falls to the end of the first round or top of the second round, New England could be in perfect range to take a chance on him. Especially if a player like Travis Hunter falls to the Patriots at the fourth overall pick, then Simmons could be a top prospect that falls into New England’s lap at pick thirty-eight, due to injury. If Mike Vrabel believes that Simmons can be their franchise left tackle of the future, then I would expect him to be aggressive in getting Simmons to Foxborough.
Quinshon Judkins, Running Back
Another potential weapon for the Patriots is running back, Quinshon Judkins. Judkins is a seriously explosive player, that has the ability to score on any given play. He is a true home run hitter, that could be a three down back. He runs with serious power and juice, and can also be counted on in the passing game. If Judkins falls down some Draft boards due to the NFL putting less value on running backs, then the Patriots could move around the board and get him in the late second round, early third. This would be a huge addition to a New England offense that has recently added multiple pieces via Free Agency.
Jack Sawyer, Defensive End
One of the more underrated potential Patriots is defensive end Jack Sawyer. Sawyer is a very strong defensive presence, and demands respect from opposing offensive lines. He is not one of the freak athlete edge rushers that the NFL world is used to, but he is still a solid player. He is a great tackler and will do the dirty work in the trenches, allowing other players around him to make the big time sacks, and game changing plays. Sawyer seems like a perfect fit for a Vrabel led team, and this is exactly why Patriots fans should keep an eye out for him on Draft weekend.
How many Ohio State players could the Patriots target in the Draft?
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) and offensive tackle Josh Simmons (71) compete during the first half of the LifeSports spring football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
Ohio State will have quite a few players drafted in April, and if the Patriots hope to get some great football players in the door, they will bring a few of the National Champions to Foxborough. But how many could make their way to New England? This is a difficult question to answer because nobody really knows how the Draft board will fall. There could be quite a few teams that value these Ohio State players very highly, and that would make it difficult for Mike Vrabel to select multiple Buckeyes. However, if I were to guess, I would say at least one Ohio State player in the 2025 Draft will be wearing a Patriots uniform next season.
