As if it wasn't clear already, the Patriots continued to prove they prioritize building around Drake Maye by drafting offensive talent through the first three rounds. It began with the selection of LSU left tackle Will Campbell, giving the quarterback a saving grace on his blind side, and continued in the second round with Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, a shocking yet welcomed pick.
Luckily, Mike Vrabel and Co. didn't stop there. After passing on a handful of wide receivers that Maye would have loved to work with, they finally got their next pass catcher with the No. 69 pick, which would have been a lot better if Rob Gronkowski had been able to announce it.
Instead of going with who most believed they would by taking Iowa State's Jaylin Noel, the Patriots selected WSU wide receiver Kyle Williams, a true X receiver their receiving corps desperately needs.
The Patriots continue to make the right decisions with this year's draft class by selecting Kyle Williams in Round 3
Although he might not be the player many Patriots fans were hoping for, Williams is exactly the kind of receiver the offense needs. The 22-year-old is known for his speed and being a YAC (yards after the catch) machine, all of which the current Patriots receivers are not.
He creates a big opportunity for Maye to utilize his impressive arm strength to stretch the field with deep throws and move the chains, as he averaged 17.1 yards per catch throughout his college career.
The Patriots select Washington State WR Kyle Williams with their initial third-round pick (No. 69):
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 26, 2025
🏈 Pre-draft visitor to Gillette
🏈 5-foot-10, 190 pounds
🏈 4.4 in 40-yard dash
🏈 70 catches for 1,198 yards (17.1 avg.), w/ 14 TDs in 2024
🏈 Downfield threat; accelerates
Williams's versatility will give the offense more ways to utilize his skill set, too, another bonus to taking a widely perceived under-the-radar great pick. This combination works well with their currently underwhelming receiver room.
His patience and ease with route running will be an excellent fit for what Josh McDaniels hopes to bring back to New England, and Maye will be the ultimate winner of what this draft class will offer so far.