After beating the Jets last Sunday, which brought them down to the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots moved back into their warm spot at the top of the draft after losing to the Titans in Week 9. It's where they have predominately been the entire season so far, as one of the worst teams in the league, and find themselves back on top at the halfway point of the year.
It's the only silver lining to having more losses than wins, especially when you're already looking ahead to next year's draft starting in October.
But, to be fair, throughout the last two decades, the Patriots have mostly picked late in the first round because they were winning so much, making the higher first-round picks now a bit more exciting. It's even more thrilling now, knowing that they seem to have found the quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, and now they can focus on building the offense around him moving forward.
That was the goal in this three-round mock draft after the Patriots' latest loss.
Patriots 2025 mid-season mock draft 1.0
TRADE!
While having the first pick of the draft means the Patriots could choose any player available, it's more valuable to them to trade back with a team that will be looking to pick a quarterback. That team could be the Las Vegas Raiders, who missed out on getting their guy this past year and will certainly be in the market for an upgrade next offseason.
As it stands, the AFC West team holds the sixth overall pick, a great place for the Patriots to trade back to and still get a player they need.
They could demand the Raiders replicate the trade package the Panthers gave the Bears in 2023 by swapping 2025 first-rounders, plus their 2025 second-round pick, and future first- and second-round selections. Throwing in a player like tight end Michael Mayer would be the icing on the cake, as he could join up with Hunter Henry and help make a dominant tight end duo in New England once again.
Because they drafted Brock Bowers earlier this year, they might be more willing to move on from Mayer already, which works in the Patriots favor.
Round 1: No. 6 pick
Although they'll miss out on two of the best receivers of the class in Colorado's Travis Hunter and Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, the Patriots still address a dire need by taking their next starting left tackle from Texas.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is a proven talent on the left side, allowing just three sacks and two hits in 2022 and 2023. He's a solid pass and run blocker, which the Patriots are currently lacking on their offensive line, and would be a starter on day one, immediately improving the offense for Drake Maye and the rest of the team.
At 6-foot-4 and 320 lbs., he won't be easy for defenders to get through, and his reliability in the position is something New England has been lacking for the past few years. If prioritizing building around Maye is the motive for this draft, taking Banks Jr. would be the best start of the weekend.
Round 2: No. 33 pick
This might be a controversial decision since the Patriots already have a solid running back in Rhamondre Stevenson, but the chance to reunite halfback Omarion Hampton and Drake Maye is too good to pass up.
The 6-foot-1 running back had his best season to date in 2023 with Maye as his quarterback, recording 253 carries for 1,504 yards, 15 touchdowns, and averaging 5.9 yards per carry. On top of that, he added 29 receptions for 222 yards and another touchdown to his stat sheet, proving he's a dual-threat player the Patriots would love.
Hampton is on pace to have an even better season this year, already totaling 245 carries for 1,350 yards and 17 touchdowns, plus 29 receptions for 358 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He would be an undeniable weapon for Maye to work with again and the chemistry they already have from their days at UNC make picking him a no-brainer.
Round 2: No. 38 pick
Moving away from the needy offense, it would be wise for the Patriots to add another dominant EDGE rusher onto their defensive line. They could easily do that by selecting Princely Umanmielen out of Ole Miss with their newly acquired second-round pick.
The outside tackle is yet to miss a game and has been a wrecking ball for the Rebels over the past three seasons, recording 21 sacks, 22 hits, and 60 hurries with more games left to be played this year.
Pairing him with Keion White, who blossomed early this year and continues to show improvements every week, would make for a very scary defensive line for opposing offenses.
Round 3: No. 65 pick
It won't be a popular decision to see the Patriots not choose a wide receiver until the third round, but the hope is they will go after a top free agent in the month before the draft. Therefore, it won't be as desperate of a need come draft time.
On top of that, the receiving corps has shown some signs of life this year with Kayshon Boutte breaking out in several games and the resurgence of Kendrick Bourne in Week 9, so all hope should not be lost heading into the 2025 offseason.
Regardless, in this mock draft, the Patriots select wide receiver Kyren Lacy out of LSU, a 6-foot-2 wideout averaging double-digit yards per catch. New England needs to fill the hole on the offense with a guy of Lacy's caliber, who is already having the best season of his college career in 2024, and he could be an excellent addition for Maye to work with.
Round 3: No. 85 pick
Because the offensive line continues to be the most liable part of the offense this season, the Patriots should double-dip again in 2025 by selecting another tackle in the third round. But this time, they take their next starting right tackle, Ajani Cornelius, out of Oregon.
While the right side of the offensive line hasn't been the dominant issue of the group, their best player, Mike Onwenu, has been forced to play out of position most of the season because of the lack of suitable talent on the roster. By adding Cornelius, this would allow Onwenu to play where he performs best, at right guard, and have the rookie hold down the right tackle spot moving forward.
He's allowed just three sacks over the past three years and just four hits. He would instantly make Maye's job a whole lot easier as he continues to deal with the highest pressure rate in the entire league.