The New England Patriots are expected to be big players when free agency begins in early March. To a large extent, their goings-on there will determine where they toss their chips in the NFL draft in April. Mike Vrabel (who'll hopefully be running personnel) and company have a lot of capital in both spheres.
The key positions to reinforce include left tackle and the O-line generally; edge; wide receiver; and, defensive tackle, among others. Vrabel almost can't go wrong with signing or drafting any of those positions. His keys are getting the best he can with his resources in both.
Here, we'll look at a mock draft where Vrabel eschews trading down for more picks and utilizes his own high-in-the-round picks to get the top players available to him. In the draft, he has to stay away from reaching and stay focused on positions of need.
Round 1, Pick No. 4: New England Patriots select EDGE Abdul Carter from Penn State
If you want the best, you get it with Vrabel's first pick, No. 4 overall, Abdul Carter from Penn State. The 6'3", 250-pound Carter has bona fide All-Pro potential. While a recently disclosed injury (stress reaction in his foot) is of some concern, it may help this top edge in the draft slide to pick No. 4 to New England.
Carter had a massive season for the Nittany Lions. In 16 games, he notched 68 total stops with 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and four passes defended. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Carter rated as their top edge in the draft. Since the Patriots have none on their roster to speak of, landing Carter is a windfall.
Here's' what PFF has to say about his strengths,
"Strengths:
• Rare athlete for the position
• Natural explosiveness and bend are both elite
• Willingness to play physically despite lighter weight
• Pass rushes like a basketball guard; cross-over style (basketball background)"
Round 2, Pick No. 38: New England Patriots select LT Josh Conerly from Oregon
Mike Vrabel sticks to the script in the second round, and with the Patriots pick No. 38, he garners a top left tackle prospect in Josh Conerly Jr., from Oregon. The Pats went into the 2024 season with no proven left tackles with NFL experience, nor did they select any in the draft. It was an amateurish blunder of mammoth proportions and contributed to tanking the season before it began.
Vrabel won't make that mistake. He may have already signed a solid NFL veteran, yet adding Conerly to the mix still makes perfect sense. Left tackles are a necessity, and you can always move one over to the right to bolster that position.
The website nfldraftbuzz.com notes this about the Ducks', 6'4", 315-pound tackle in their Scouting Report,
"Put on the Washington tape and you'll see everything you need to know about Conerly's NFL readiness. Watch him mirror that explosive edge rusher play after play, staying patient in his set, keeping his shoulders square, and using those quick feet to shut down every counter move thrown his way. This is a day one starter at left tackle who's already showing advanced processing skills that normally take years to develop. The way he ID's stunts pre-snap and smoothly passes off rushers tells me the game has slowed down for him mentally."
Round 3, Pick No. 69: New England Patriots select DT Kenneth Grant from Michigan
The objective for the Patriots this offseason is to bring top players at positions of need. Vrabel continues meeting that objective in the third round with the Patriots' own pick No. 69, and takes PFF's third-ranked interior defensive lineman, Kenneth Grant of Michigan.
In 2024, the 6'3", 339-pound Wolverine playmaker racked up 32 total stops with seven tackles for loss, three sacks, five passes defended, and two fumble recoveries.
profootballnetwork.com talks about Grant's abilities,
"Kenneth Grant is one of the most explosive defensive tackle prospects over 330 lbs to enter the NFL Draft. He fits into a rare player category with a high-level blend of size, speed, and power.
His lower body strength is enough to demand significant attention from opposing offensive lines on a snap-to-snap basis. His physical profile is ideal for eating blockers to free up his linemates and the linebackers navigating traffic behind him. Grant is especially dangerous because he has the awareness and hand usage to shed blockers against the run."
Round 3, Pick No. 77: New England Patriots select WR Jalen Royals from Utah State
In the third round, with the 77th pick obtained from Atlanta in the Matt Judon trade, the Patriots take Jalen Royals, wide receiver from Utah State. In seven games before suffering a season-ending injury, Royals caught 55 passes, for 834 yards, and six touchdowns.
bleacherreport.com cites the top qualities the 6'0", 205-pound Aggies' wideout will bring to the receiver-needy Pats,
"Jalen Royals is a dynamic play-making wide receiver with a well-proportioned NFL frame.
"Royals is a good and precise route runner with short-area quickness that puts pressure on cornerbacks. He generates separation with suddenness out of his breaks against man coverage. Facing soft press or off coverage, Royals' foot quickness puts defenders in conflict and tests their reaction time. He attacks defenders' airspace before using sudden movements to break past or away from them."
Round 4, Pick No. 105: New England Patriots select OT Anthony Belton from NC State
As mentioned earlier, Mike Vrabel isn't going to repeat the ill-advised Patriots' situation at left tackle in 2024 that helped cost them their season. Instead, even perhaps after securing a veteran left tackle in free agency, he still doubles down on left tackles in the fourth round and selects Anthony Becton from NC State with the Patriots' pick No. 105.
The 6'5", 348-pound Belton is a massive impediment to any NFL pass rusher. The Wolfpack's left tackle is a solid addition early in the fourth round. Unlike in 2024, he'll ensure that lots of talent is available at left tackle when the Patriots take the field in 2025.
nfldraftbuzz.com summarizes the mammoth NC State tackle's skills,
"Anthony Belton brings a tantalizing combination of massive size and surprising pass protection skill that smart offensive line coaches will be eager to develop. His film reveals a player with significantly better technique in pass sets than run blocking, suggesting he's more advanced in the former despite his intimidating physical presence. While he sits outside the top 100 prospects in this draft class, Belton's exceptional length and pass protection upside make him a Day 3 selection with starter potential."
That's a quick, four-round draft in which the Patriots concentrate their efforts on top quality rather than quantity. Before the final mop-up, hit-or-miss rounds, the Patriots land five top talents, each improving the current roster. Added to several veteran upgrades (e.g., at left tackle) in free agency, and scouting success (if possible), and the Patriots will be ready to compete in the AFC East.