Throughout the majority of the 2025 offseason, the Patriots have been connected to some of the top prospects in the incoming rookie class. They were the longtime favorite to land CB/WR Travis Hunter with the No. 4 pick, as he would immediately boost Drake Maye's offense and serve as a useful weapon in the secondary when needed.
It seemed like a perfect fit for what the Patriots need to accomplish with the roster this offseason to be a competitive team again this fall. But falling from the first overall pick to No. 4 because of their Week 18 win put their chance of snagging Hunter in danger, and that has now become reality at the start of the first round on Thursday night.
However, it didn't happen as many anticipated it would. It wasn't a result of Hunter being taken before the Patriots were on the clock in the typical way expected on draft night. Instead, it was the Jaguars deciding to trade up with the Browns for the No. 2 pick to ensure Hunter was their first draft pick.
It is an even worse case scenario for a team that could have significantly benefited from having an impactful player like Hunter on their team, and it seems like Mike Vrabel and Co. missed the opportunity to get a deal done.
The Patriots missed out on the chance to draft Travis Hunter by not trading up in the first round
Despite having what appeared to be a prime position in the draft with the No. 4 overall pick, the Patriots quickly realized it would have been better if they had been just a couple of picks higher instead. Although Vrabel is not responsible for the Week 18 win that had them move down from the first pick, there was a chance they could resolve the issue by trading up, even if reports suggested the Browns and Giants weren't all that interested.
If they really wanted to get a guy like Hunter, there was an opportunity to close a deal, and the Jaguars made that happen immediately.
ESPN Sources:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
🏈Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.
🏈Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick… pic.twitter.com/9J3QPHqhhU
Instead, the Patriots are now in a position to stick and pick at No. 4 or trade down if they feel that's a better situation. They already know their most desirable players are off the board, with Abdul Carter presumably going to the Giants and Hunter going to the Jaguars. So now they'll have to shift their focus and sit with the failure of securing one of them.
Whoever they end up picking could still be a solid addition to the team. But nearly every analyst believed that Carter and Hunter would be a sure thing in the NFL, and the Patriots need that on their roster in 2025.