The dust has settled on the first round of the NFL Draft, and to nobody's surprise, the Patriots went with LSU left tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick. While that selection drew some moans and groans at a watch party at Gillette Stadium, Mike Vrabel said that Campbell's selection makes the most sense for the team.
Rounds two and three were set to happen on Friday, with the draft wrapping up with the fourth through seventh rounds Saturday, and while the Patriots did an exceptional job in free agency solidifying their defense, work remains to be done on that side of the football.
The Patriots' defensive backfield has the potential to be great in 2025, especially with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III as the team's top two cornerbacks. However, safety remains a question mark, with Kyle Dugger and Jabril Peppers showing inconsistency over the last couple of years.
Xavier Watts could emerge as a day two steal for the Patriots
While the focus may shift to continuing to weaponize the offense, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts could provide the Patriots with a steal in one of the next two rounds.
Watts emerged as a defensive quarterback for one of the best units in the country over the last two years and was a big reason why Notre Dame played for a national championship just a few months ago.
Watts won the Nagurski Trophy in 2023 as college football's top defensive player and was a first-team All-American last fall. He posted a combined 13 interceptions over his final two seasons in South Bend and would give New England's defense another playmaker it sorely needs in the back end.
His final big splash for the Fighting Irish was being named the Most Valuable Player of the Sugar Bowl, a win over Georgia.
Watts has incredible instincts, reads the quarterback exceptionally well, and is versatile enough to play in run support. One thing that may scare teams slightly is his inconsistency in man coverage, but a coach like Vrabel could shore that up efficiently.
Yes, the Patriots need another playmaker on offense, and they could regret passing on Ashton Jeanty or not trading back into the first round to nab someone like Matthew Golden. But Watts would provide the secondary one last boost heading into 2025.