The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, so mock drafts have increased, and analyzing which incoming rookies fit best with certain teams has become more popular. Because the Patriots are in the top-5 picks of the first round, they are on several of these lists for the most desirable prospects, many of whom would fill some of the biggest weaknesses on the roster.
The favorite to be the No. 4 pick has consistently changed over the past few weeks, especially as news about players who will be available via trade has dominated the news. The Patriots are considered good landing spots for many of them, like Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel, which has then switched up who they select with their first round selection.
That has inevitably made them the most recent favorites for LSU left tackle Will Campbell, a significant upgrade on the offensive line for Drake Maye, or Texas' Kelvin Banks, who is a sneaky great prospect.
However, CBS Sports recently listed New England as the second-best fit for Colorado's dynamic cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter, who the Patriots would be incredibly fortunate to have left on the board when they finally get on the clock.
Travis Hunter would immediately make the Patriots a better team on offense and defense
The Patriots were once the unanimous favorite for Hunter in nearly every expert's opinion early in mock draft season, but they have since shifted to address other positions of need, like the offensive line or EDGE.
While it's hard to argue against filling those positions with the No. 4 pick, they were moved off Hunter mainly because analysts believed he wouldn't fall that far in the first round, making him unavailable for the Patriots to even consider.
But according to CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani, they're still a top fit for the dynamic player, and he considers them to be the perfect landing spot only below the Giants.
"I am fascinated to see what the Patriots do this offseason. They hired a preseason Coach of the Year favorite in Mike Vrabel, found a prospective franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, have nearly $130 million in projected cap space -- which leads the NFL by a wide margin -- and hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Like virtually every other team on this list, the Patriots have legitimate needs at both wide receiver and cornerback, which Hunter fits. However, unlike with other teams on this list, I would like to see Hunter play more wide receiver with New England. "
One of the biggest factors determining how NFL teams in the draft view Hunter will be how his Combine goes and if he decides to favor one position over the other. The belief is he will have to choose between playing cornerback or wide receiver and not both, which is what he did throughout his college career.
It would be impressive if he could manage both, but the NFL is an entirely different game than the football played in college, so it seems unlikely he will be able to accomplish that. So, assuming he chooses to focus on wide receiver, Dajani likes him the most for the Patriots, which fans would also love to see.
Hunter would be an incredible addition to play alongside Christian Gonzalez, which is difficult to move on from the idea of, but the receiving corps is in desperate need of upgrading, and that's exactly what he would add to the team.
During the 2024 season alone, he recorded 96 receptions for 1,258 yards (13.1 Y/R) and 15 touchdowns. He accomplished that while also playing 100% of defensive snaps throughout the year, proving he is incredibly athletic and durable. That's exactly what the Patriots could benefit from by adding him to the offense for Drake Maye to work with.
The hope is they will have the chance to even consider selecting him on draft night, rather than liking the idea of having him on the team and him being off the board by No. 4. There's a chance they could try to trade up to ensure they can pick him, but that will depend on the price tag and how desperately Mike Vrabel and Co. feel he has to be on the 2025 roster.