The Patriots went into the 2025 NFL Draft with what appeared to be a clear plan. Besides shifting their philosophy to taking the best player available, they stuck to doing all they could to ensure Drake Maye was surrounded by quality talent for the 2025 season. That wasn't the case during his rookie season, but it will be now that Mike Vrabel is calling the shots.
They accomplished that through the first three rounds by adding left tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, and center Jared Wilson. The young quarterback is certainly the biggest winner of their efforts, and there are still more picks left to be made to really elevate the roster.
There are still some quality options left to choose from, including more wide receviers if the new regime is dedicated to making the biggest impact. However, based on what executive vice president of player personnel (and essentially GM) Eliot Wolf had to say after Round 3 concluded, offense will be put on the back burner if possible for the remainder of the draft.
The Patriots plan to focus on the defense on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft
While recapping the second day of the draft on Friday night, Wolf spoke about how the board fell and allowed the Patriots to focus on the offense early.
He revealed that won't necessarily be the case moving forward, as they hope to add more defensive players throughout the final four rounds of this year's draft.
Executive VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf: Anticipate some defensive players added on Day 3 of the draft Saturday after the draft board dictated that the first four picks were on offense. pic.twitter.com/3fi3YncIb9
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 26, 2025
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Considering they added some solid defenders in free agency and have yet to add defensive rookies, it makes sense that that would become the focus on Day 3.
Fortunately, there are still some top names to watch for that could pique their interest, most notably Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer. He is at the top of many fans' wish lists since the Patriots' defense is in dire need of pass-rushing help.
There are also defensive linemen and linebackers to watch, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the needs extend to every aspect of the defense. The cornerback room appears to be set, but adding another up-and-coming talent wouldn't be a bad idea. The same could be said at safety.