The objective was clear for the Patriots going into the 2025 NFL Draft, with the offense needing to be the priority after a defensive-led free agency already bolstered half the team. Mike Vrabel and the new regime had a tall ask ahead, but made impressive picks in the early rounds to equal out the offense immediately by adding left tackle Will Campbell.
As one of the biggest weaknesses of the 2024 season, which also hindered Drake Maye's performance, it was the best decision possible to add the best offensive lineman of the class. And they didn't stop there.
They shocked the NFL world by then selecting running back TreVeyon Henderson, a position that didn't appear to need an upgrade. However, as one of the most explosive offensive weapons of all the incoming rookies, it was a widely applauded move, given that Maye would now have another impressive option, and is now proving to be an even better decision by the Patriots based on the latest updates about his former Ohio State teammate.
Ongoing legal issues with Quinshon Judkins proves the Patriots won the battle of the running backs over the Browns
Because there didn't seem to be any sense of urgency for the Patriots to take a running back in this year's draft, it was surprising to see they picked Henderson with their second-round pick, especially since most believed they'd go after a wide receiver, one of their biggest weaknesses on the roster.
However, they managed to still get one of the best at the position of the entire class, even after the Browns took Henderson's teammate Quinshon Judkins just two picks before. They were an incredible tandem during their days at Ohio State, with Judkins putting up better numbers than the newest Patriot, so it made sense he was first off the board of the two.
Yet he's now being accused of misdemeanor domestic violence and was arrested for such last weekend, subsequently putting his NFL career in jeopardy. It's a fate that has become a popular theme in Cleveland over the years, even more so since they unfathomably decided to give up everything, including the kitchen sink, for quarterback Deshaun Watson despite having been accused of heinous acts that forced the Texans to trade him.
It becomes the latest drama for the Browns to deal with and something the Patriots are lucky to have avoided for multiple reasons. Because Judkins might have been viewed as the better running back of the two in some analysts' eyes, he very easily could have been the player they drafted had he been available at No. 38.
Fortunately, he wasn't, and they can avoid adding any further ugly headlines into the mix, but are now looking ahead to a contract dispute with Henderson instead. Although that's not exactly something they want to be dealing with, it's a far better situation than what the Browns' future looks like with Judkins, whatever that may be.