The New England Patriots will be on the clock come April 24th in Green Bay, and all eyes will be on the top six-ish picks. The Pats hold pick No. 4 and are assured of landing one of college football’s best players—either with their pick at No. 4 or in a slight trade-down.
The suggestion here is to only trade down if you can stay within the top seven picks, depending on how the draft unfolds. It’s mandatory to land one of those top six positional players (non-quarterbacks) if this draft is going to be a success.
Let’s go with a final 2025 mock draft that will stun the NFL and send shockwaves throughout the league. Mike Vrabel proves to be a master manipulator of the draft board and lands a haul of players that will put the Patriots right back in the mix in the AFC East.
Round 1, Pick 5: Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State)
In the first round, the Patriots trade down and select, Ashton Jeanty, running back from Boise State
With Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter off the board, the Patriots engineer the trade they were hoping for. They move down one spot, sending pick No. 4, their second third-rounder (No. 77) acquired from Atlanta in the Matthew Judon trade, and their fifth-round pick from Dallas in the Joe Milton III deal to Carolina in exchange for picks No. 5 and 36.
With pick No. 5, they take draft running back supreme, Jeanty from Boise State. Vrabel thinks outside the box, realizes he can bolster his offensive tackle position later on, and takes the most explosive player in the draft in Jeanty. He rushed for a colossal 2,601 yards, and 29 touchdowns, while adding 23 catches for 138 yards and another TD. Those are some stats!
Jeanty is a smaller, bell-cow back who makes long runs for fun. This pick allows Vrabel to trade Rhamondre Stevenson for value. Jeanty would immediately upgrade a listless offense that lacked any playmakers in 2024. It's an outside-the-box, brilliant pick that upgrades his offense dramatically in one fell swoop. Grade A+++.
Pro Football Focus says this about the best running back in the draft, and their fifth-ranked player overall, exactly where the Patriots drafted him:
"Jeanty is a total-package backfield playmaker with impressive balance, footwork, vision, explosiveness and big-play ability — reminiscent of Alvin Kamara. He is a first-round offensive weapon who can succeed behind any blocking scheme."
Round 2, Pick 38: Josh Conerly Jr., OT (Oregon)
In the second round, the Patriots trade down (again), and select offensive left tackle, Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon with their own pick
In the second round, Vrabel continues to maneuver the board, trading the 36th pick acquired from Carolina and the 144th pick in the fifth round in exchange for picks 44 and 76.
With their own 38th overall pick, the Pats crush their most needy position, left tackle, and take one of the best in the draft, Josh Conerly Jr. from Oregon.
NFL.com talks about the Duck's standout in their Overview of the 6-foot-5, 311-pound left tackle:
"Two-year starter whose in-season improvement and performance against Penn State’s Abdul Carter make it easier to project his future. Conerly is proportionally built but lacks ideal play strength. He strains at the point of attack but needs to get his hips and hands synced to improve as a finisher. He moves easily in space and gets to his angles to help spring the run.
Conerly sets with smooth slides and ready hands but gets caught over-setting. He has anchor troubles against power that might be challenging to correct. He sees twists and blitzes developing and recovers with athleticism when beaten. Conerly is young and needs more development, but he should become a good starter at tackle or guard."
Round 2, Pick 44: Jaylin Noel, WR (Iowa State)
In the second round, the Patriots select wide receiver, Jaylin Noel from Iowa State
With pick No. 44 acquired in the Dallas trade, Vrabel goes back to the offensive skill positions and selects Iowa State's electric wide receiver, Jaylin Noel. Noel is one of the draft's fastest risers and an explosive player in his own right.
The 5-foot-10, 194-pound Noel caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight TDs in 2024 with a 14.5 yards per reception average. He's the second, big-play, explosive addition to a lackluster Patriots' offense. Here's what nfldraftbuzz.com says about the Cyclones' star:
"Noel has "dangerous weapon" written all over him as a vertical slot receiver with deep-ball tracking ability that jumps off the film. The way he stresses defenses downfield belies his modest frame – this isn't your typical underneath slot guy. When he gets a clean release, defenders are immediately in survival mode. Watch how he manipulates safeties with his eyes before breaking into wide-open space on deep posts and seams – that's NFL-level route craft right there."
Round 3, Pick 69: Ozzy Trapilo, OT (Boston College)
In the third round, the Patriots select offensive tackle, Ozzie Trapilo from Boston College
The Patriots use their own third-round pick, No. 69, to further bolster their offensive tackle position. They'd select Boston College's 6-foot-8, 309-pound swing tackle, Ozzie Trapilo. Trapilo played on the right side for BC and should be ready to fill in—and eventually start—once Morgan Moses moves on.
NFL.com says this about the Eagles' gigantic tackle:
"Tall tackle prospect with NFL bloodlines and a noticeable improvement in play strength last season. The run-blocking tape falls below the protection tape due to leverage and adjustment limitations we frequently see with taller tackles.
Trapilo won’t generate much movement in the run game, but good upper-body power helps him neutralize the edge. He operates with sound pass sets, active hands and excellent arm extension. He has a good feel for pocket depth with an ability to ride rushers over the top, but he will get beat by inside counters and speed-to-power rushers at times. Trapilo could operate as a swing tackle early on but his potential in pass protection gives him a good chance to become a starter."
Round 3, Pick, 81: Omar Norman-Lott, DT (Tennessee)
In the third round, the Patriots trade down and select defensive tackle, Omar Norman-Lott from Tennessee
New England continues to mine value from astute trades. In this one, he sends the third-round pick acquired from Dallas (No. 76) and a 2026 fifth-rounder to Cincinnati in exchange for the 81st pick in the third round and the 119th pick in the fourth. With the 81st pick, he strengthens his interior defensive line by selecting Tennessee’s 6-foot-2, 291-pound defensive tackle Omar Norman-Lott.
Here's what nfldraftbuzz.com notes about the explosive Vols' penetrator who fits Mike Vrabel's new defense to a T:
"Norman-Lott brings an intriguing mix of pass rush skills and developmental upside, showing the ability to consistently collapse pockets and pressure quarterbacks in obvious passing situations. His quick-twitch burst off the ball and array of hand-fighting moves will draw attention from teams running aggressive one-gap schemes. The Tennessee transfer repeatedly showed he can wreck an offensive game plan when allowed to pin his ears back and hunt quarterbacks."
Round 4, Pick 106: Terrance Ferguson, TE (Oregon)
In the fourth round, the Patriots select tight end Terrance Ferguson from Oregon
They continue to bolster his offensive skill positions in the fourth round, using pick No. 106 to draft Oregon’s 6-foot-5, 247-pound tight end Terrance Ferguson—a favorite here throughout the draft process. With top tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper both over 30, adding a young pass-catcher is a prudent move. Ferguson caught 43 passes for 591 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
Here's what nfl.com has to say about the Ducks' big tight end:
"Productive pass catcher with good size but an alarming lack of tenacity and fire when it’s time to run block. Ferguson saw adequate short-catch volume but was rarely asked to venture beyond the front yard as a route-runner. He has not shown enough technique or toughness to neutralize an NFL edge defender at the point of attack, but he can hit targets as a move blocker. Ferguson could improve in that area with additional coaching, but he might need to find the grit needed to compete against NFL tough guys as a run blocker to realize his full potential."
Round 4, Pick 119: Jack Sawyer, Edge (Ohio State)
In the fourth round, the Patriots select, Jack Sawyer, edge, from Ohio State
In the fourth round, with the pick acquired in the trade with the Bengals, the Patriots get lucky and select Ohio State’s playmaking edge rusher Jack Sawyer. He’ll join free-agent signings Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson as part of Vrabel’s reconstruction of the position.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Sawyer can line up with his hand in the dirt or standing up on the edge. He’s a playmaker. In 2024, he racked up 59 total tackles and a solid nine sacks for the National Champion Buckeyes. He also forced three fumbles and recovered three—two of which he returned for touchdowns, including an 83-yard score against Texas in a College Football Playoff game.
The 33rdteam.com talks about Sawyer's attributes:
"He is an impactful run defender who found his pass rush ceiling this season thanks to effective bull rushes and a persistent motor. This is a player who should be well regarded in base fronts as a hand in the dirt end and charged with predominantly setting edges in the run game.
"Sawyer has developed into a well-regarded locker room leader at Ohio State and plays with the same passion as a high-motor player. The challenge for an NFL team will be finding the right mix of early and late down opportunities for him as a part of their rotation."
That’s it—a 2025 Patriots mock draft that Mike Vrabel absolutely aces. He adds the best running back in years, two top tackles (including his starting left tackle), an explosive wide receiver, and a young, talented tight end to bolster a weak offense. On defense, a top defensive tackle and a playmaking edge arrive. It’s a grand slam home run and an A+ grade for Mike Vrabel in his first Patriots draft. Bravo!