With their presumed next franchise quarterback in tow, the Patriots went into the 2025 NFL Draft with less pressure and more options with the No. 4 overall pick. Leading up to the first round, the projections had them choosing between several standout players, with a particular emphasis on the offense. That meant players like left tackle Will Campbell, pass rusher Abdul Carter, and receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter were at the top of the list.
However, a few other names were in the mix, as well, such as tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., defensive tackle Mason Graham, and right tackle Armand Membou. Because a new regime led by Mike Vrabel was calling the shots this year, it was difficult to predict who they might take.
We now know they seemed to have hit the jackpot by selecting Campbell, but they could have chosen the highly regarded next best tackle by picking Banks. And based on the latest projection for the newest New Orleans Saint, it looks like they made the right decision to pass on him.
The Patriots made the right decision by going with the widely considered best left tackle of the 2025 class
When projecting the likeliest first-round draft picks that could disappoint in their first season, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski lists Banks as one of the six candidates.
Many of the primary reasons for concern regarding the tackle's future are similar to those with Campbell. However, it's difficult to argue that the Patriots made the wrong choice by taking the highest graded tackle of the 2025 class.
Because of that, hearing the concerns from Bleacher Report scout Brandon Thorn, who Sobleski cites in the article, makes it look like a wise decision for the Patriots to have passed on Banks.
"In the lineman's scouting report, Thorn added, "Banks transitions into his anchor against speed to power on time but can get pressed onto his heels and pried open against the long-arm that exposes closer to average length and lower body strength."
Banks moves well, and he's comfortable at left tackle. Though, clearly, he has a couple of areas that can be exposed early in his career against adept edge defenders. He's not the caliber of left tackle prospect often seen among the top 10 picks, and he may require time to improve his functional strength and finishing skills."
One criticism you won't hear about the Patriots taking Campbell at No. 4 is that he was taken off the board too high. Banks had been long projected as a mid-round pick in the first round, with New England mocked to take him if they chose to trade out of their coveted selection.
Instead, the Saints took him at No. 9, which puts far more pressure on him to be an immediate playmaker than he might have been had he been taken where experts believed was best. It's an unfortunate part of being a first-round pick, and the Patriots are fortunate not to have that extra microscope on them for the upcoming season.
The hope is that they won't encounter any similar issues with Campbell, who has been frequently questioned as a left tackle in the NFL due to his arm length, despite the number of talented linemen with similar measurements who have played before him.
Fortunately, throughout spring practices, it didn't appear to be a problem, and the rookie impressed with his potential. So that is something to look forward to as the team returns to Foxboro later this month.