The Patriots have the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. It's a great place to be if you can forget how they got there. Regardless, Mike Vrabel and his new Patriots team have that pick. They can use it or take another potentially viable option: trade down.
Expect them to use that pick if they feel that Travis Hunter (why wouldn't they?) or Abdul Carter is as good as everyone thinks and they're available. If both are, they should take Hunter. Yet, if only Carter is, take him in an instant. He's a great player with All-Pro potential. The first-round mission is accomplished.
But what happens if neither is available? That's where real decision-making enters the picture. The Patriots will have options but tough choices to make. They can use the pick on a huge need, like left tackle Will Campbell, or take the best running back in the draft, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. If not, they can trade down. That's the topic here.
The best teams the Patriots can trade down with
The Las Vegas Raiders
Sports Illustrated identified teams are likely to be looking for quarterbacks in 2025. They are the Cleveland Browns, the New York Giants, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Los Angeles Rams, the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tennessee Titans. Cleveland and New York pick before the Patriots. If each takes a top-two QB, the Patriots can select either Hunter or Carter. So, they're not likely in the picture.
However, if one of the top quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, slips to pick No. 4, trade talks could start buzzing with the Raiders or the Saints. The Raiders have pick No. 6, which requires only a two-pick drop for the Patriots to maximize draft value. Las Vegas, with Tom Brady around, more than any other team, is cognizant of the value of a quarterback.
Should the Patriots trade down with the Raiders? The answer is yes. If neither Hunter nor Carter is available, and should one of the two quarterbacks slip to pick No. 4, the Patriots will be sitting pretty, and the optimum team to trade with is the Raiders.
If the Pats can crowbar another high second-round pick by trading down two spots, maybe even if they have to hand over one of their third-rounders, it still makes perfect sense. Trading with Las Vegas assures the Patriots of landing a top player who Jacksonville passes on at pick No. 5. These include left tackle Will Campbell, running back Ashton Jeanty, and defensive tackle Mason Graham, all home run picks. And they'll also have an additional pick(s) to use.
The New Orlean Saints
A second realistic team to possibly trade down with is the New Orleans Saints, but this is a marginal situation. The Saints only have the ninth pick overall. The Raiders' pick probably assures the Patriots of getting one of those mentioned players at a Patriots' position of need (as well as more draft capital). The Saints pick may not get them one of those players. Vrabel needs quality players, and a top-six player will be the best available at his position.
Numerous computations and permutations can alter any of these scenarios. The gist of this is that if the Patriots trade down to either Las Vegas or New Orleans, they'll still have a pick that will garner at least a starter at a position of need, if not the best player at his position in the draft, plus an additional pick(s).
The soundest situation for the Patriots at pick No. 4 is simple: They should take the best player available at a position of need. If either is available, Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter are the best choices.
If not, try to trade down with the Raiders and take Will Campbell, Ashton Jeanty, or Mason Graham. None are just consolation prizes. Alternatively, if a deal with the Raiders isn't there, and the Saints' deal is too good to pass up, they can trade down with New Orleans to pick No. 9, get additional second and third-round picks this year, and take the best player of need available.
There are many possible trade-down scenarios that the Patriots might consider on April 24th. One is optimum, with the Raiders, and others, like with New Orleans, may be acceptable. We'll see how all this plays out in Green Bay. With Mike Vrabel in charge, expect outstanding results. That's what top professionals deliver.