When it comes to the draft, the adage of taking the best player available when you're on the clock rings true more often than not. And regarding this particular draft for the Patriots, that will undoubtedly ring true in Green Bay in a few weeks.
New England did an outstanding job addressing several needs in free agency, but the reality is the Patriots still have a few more holes to plug in, and this particular draft gives Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel a golden opportunity to do just that.
The Patriots can't afford to swing and miss when they are on the clock. Recent drafts have seen too much of that, and that trend can't continue if New England is going to become a Super Bowl contender again.
Rookie prospects the Patriots can't pass on in the 2025 NFL Draft
Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter
The Patriots are sitting pretty in the context of holding the fourth pick in the draft and not needing a quarterback, and the teams above them - Tennessee, Cleveland, and the Giants - all do. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will likely go to two of those teams, so the chances of the Hesiman Trophy-winning Hunter falling to the Patriots seem pretty high.
And if he's there at No. 4, Wolf had better have a Patriots' cap ready for Hunter.
Hunter is the ultimate Swiss-Army knife who will excel at wide receiver and cornerback, and pairing him with Stefon Diggs would make the Patriots' receiving core all the more dangerous.
Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter
There's been chatter that the Browns are interested in Hunter, which is crazy given their quarterback situation, so if he's off the board, the Patriots should swing their attention to easily the best defender available in this draft.
Carter would give the Patriots that lethal edge pass-rusher they haven't had in quite some time and make an already-improved New England defense that much stronger. A front four featuring Carter, Milton Williams, and Christian Barmore would be scary for opposing quarterbacks. Carter has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons.
Oregon tackle Josh Conerly
I doubt the Patriots will select an offensive tackle with the fourth pick, assuming they stay there. No disrespect to Will Campbell, but New England shouldn't pass on Carter or Hunter for him if they stay at the fourth pick.
Conerly's arms aren't super long, but he is quick and produced the quickest 10-yard split at the NFL Combine. The chances are good he could be there for New England once it is on the clock in the second round. He's the 33rd-ranked overall prospect, so he wouldn't be a reach for the Patriots early in the second round.