After losing another winnable game to the Colts, the 2024 version of the New England Patriots has dropped their record to a dismal 3-10. They are firmly ensconced in last place in the AFC East (what else is new?) as they enter their bye (or more appropriately labeled "bye-bye" week.
The idea here is that you are what you build in the offseason. Do lots of good things, and you'll be rewarded. Strumble and bumble your way through, and you end up like the Pats, at the bottom looking up. They did the latter, and they are what they are: a terrible football team.
The silver lining, if there is one in this mess, is that the Patriots will have a high draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The imperative for blundering owner Robert Kraft, who flopped in his choices of a top personnel man and his head coach, is to bring in a top personnel man as President of Football Operations to oversee Wolf and his lackluster group. Absent that, don't expect much.
Whoever drafts in 2025 will have high picks to work with, and they have to get most of them right. So here we go with Mock Draft Number Three, a four-rounder looking forward to the promise of 2025, even if only Maye and a few other players warrant that optimism. The Pats will have the fourth pick overall as things stand now. Let's pick and project how the team can get back on track.
With the fourth pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select, offensive left tackle, Will Campbell, LSU
The Pats here eschew any thoughts of trading down and go right at their weakest position, left tackle, and snag the best in the draft, Will Campbell of LSU. Their fumbling efforts to fill the position in 2024 ended in abject failure. Here, they don't mess around with trading down. They fill the position with a Day One starter at the second most important position on the field.
Pro Football Focus has Campbell rated No. One on the list of top tackles in the draft. Not all picks work out, but when you reach a consensus with the best, you do the right thing.
Here's what walterfootball.com has to say about the big LSU Tigers' left tackle,
"There is much to like about Campbell, as he could have plug-and-play starter potential for the NFL. Assuming he stays healthy, Campbell will have had three seasons of experience playing against the best competition possible to prepare him for the NFL. He has already held his own while taking on future NFL first-round picks, and Campbell still has upside to get better as he matures physically and mentally...
"As a pass protector, Campbell is reliable to get the job done and give his quarterback the necessary time to get the ball out. He is quick out of his stance and stays light on his feet with the quickness to get depth in his drop to negate speed rushers running around him. Campbell plays with good leverage and is a natural knee bender with smooth feet to glide in the pocket. He shows impressive vision, instincts, and feel that allow him to react quickly to snuff out games and stunts by the defensive line. He has the size and bulk to stand up bull rushes, and it is not easy for defenders to drive him backward. Campbell is a well-balanced pass protector who should be an asset in protecting his trigger man in the NFL."
When you have a potential Pro-Bowl or All-Pro at QB like Maye, you need a top left tackle, and the 6'6", 320-pound Campbell is the best the 2025 draft has to offer. You reject any trade-down offers (that don't still allow you to get Campbell) and take him at pick No. Four.
The Patriots trade down down twice in the second round and take a defensive tackle from Oregon, Derrick Harmon
In the second round, the Pats traded down for an additional third-round pick, sending three picks—their second-round pick, the 36th pick, their fourth-rounder, No. 105, and their seventh-round pick, No. 240—to Chicago for the Bears' 39th and 73rd picks. This draft is about quality, and the trade only drops the Pats down three spots in the second round and provides another premium pick, a third-rounder. They now have three to work with.
Now again, the Bears come knocking and offer their pick No. 42 in the second round and 148 in the fifth to the Pats for their 39th in the second round. It's too good an offer to pass up, and the Patriots make the deal. They then select versatile defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from Oregon at pick No. 42. Harmon is a 6'5", 310-pound disruptor who can play both inside and on the end.
Thedraftnetwork.com cites his strengths,
"Harmon’s skill set stands out. He’s got a compact build with fluid movement and quick reaction time. His natural leverage makes it difficult for opposing linemen to handle him.
"Against the run, Harmon excels. He reads blocking schemes well and reacts quickly. When facing double teams, he’s hard to move, using his positioning and hands effectively. Harmon’s ability to thrive in post-snap defensive line movement is another strength. Whether he’s slanting outside to challenge a tackle or cutting inside to take on a guard or center, he’s adept at using his opponent’s momentum against them."
Change is in the air at defensive tackle, and Harmon complements the team's two premier defensive tackles, Christian Barmore and Keion White, nicely. Adding Harmon to the mix allows the team to free up cap space by trading or releasing Davon Godchaux and Deatrich Wise Jr.
The Pats add edge Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State in Round 3
With their own pick 68 in the third round, the Patriots select an edge player, 6'5", 265-pound Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State. Sutton is a solid pass-rusher. In 2024, he's notched four sacks in only five games played. He fills a huge need on the Patriots' defense.
nfldraftbuzz.com outlines some of Dennis-Sutton's skills,
"Dennis-Sutton projects as a high-upside edge defender with the tools to make an immediate impact in run defense. His first-step explosiveness and leverage skills should translate well to setting the edge at the pro level. In nickel packages, he'll likely start as a situational pass rusher while he refines his technique and expands his pass-rush arsenal beyond power moves...
Long-term, Dennis-Sutton has the potential to become a solid NFL starter. His versatility to play in multiple fronts adds to his value. If he can harness his physical tools and improve his consistency, he could develop into a 6-8 sack per year player who's stout against the run. While he may not become an elite pass rusher, his skill set projects him as a reliable strong-side end who can impact both phases of the game."
Patriots add wide receiver, Kyren Lacy from LSU in the third-round
With pick No. 73 acquired from Chicago, the Pats select a big, productive wide receiver, Kyren Lacy from LSU. The 6'3", 212-pound Lacy has caught 58 passes for 866 yards and nine TDs for the Tigers in 12 games in the ever-competitive SEC.
He'll join fellow Tiger, Will Campbell on the offense and add firepower for Drake Maye.
nfldraftbuzz.com outlines Lacy's abilities,
"A multi-faceted receiver with the tools to contribute early in his NFL career. Possesses the route-running acumen and release skills to create separation at all levels of the field. Thrives in the intermediate areas, showcasing an advanced understanding of leveraging defenders and finding open zones. Red zone effectiveness and reliable hands translate well to Sunday action.
"Scheme fit suggests highest value in offenses emphasizing quick-game concepts and option routes from multiple alignments. Can immediately contribute in 11 personnel packages, with potential to develop into a valuable Z-receiver. High-level processing speed and academic achievements indicate ability to quickly assimilate complex NFL playbooks."
Patriots go back to the offensive tackle well and select Earnest Greene III from Georgia in the 3rd round
The Pat's tackle situation in 2024 has been a disaster. So they double up at the left tackle position with pick No. 83, acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Judon trade, with another SEC stalwart, Earnest Greene III from Georgia. A bit shorter than preferred, the 6'4", 320-pound Bulldog still brings top pedigree to the table from a top program in the nation's best Conference, the SEC.
thedraftnetwork.com outlines Green's strengths,
" ... Focusing on Greene’s individual skill set, he is an athletic offensive tackle who wins using quickness to help leverage himself in both the run game and pass protection.
"In the run game, Greene shows best on zone runs where he can use his quick first step to get in front of defenders and beat them to a spot moving laterally ... Greene also shows the ability to work to the second level effectively and make contact with second-level defenders. Greene being able to do this helps create running lanes for running backs to run for big plays.
"In pass protection, Greene's best asset is his initial quickness to either attempt to get depth or to quick-set a defender and try to stop their momentum quickly. When utilizing his quickness to get depth, he has a quick first step to force defenders to have to run the arc to get to the quarterback, which could allow the quarterback to step up in the pocket to evade the pressure."
Having traded their fourth-round pick to Chicago, the Patriots have completed their draft to this point and done well. They drafted the top-rated left tackle in the draft, Will Campbell, and added another solid left tackle.
In addition, they landed a solid defensive tackle to allow a necessary restructuring there, and an edge to bolster that depleted position. They've also strengthened the wide receiver room after hopefully going all-out in free agency to build up that weak unit. All in all, it's a super draft thus far for whoever conducted it. Grade: straight A.