The 2025 draft was one that Patriots' director of player personnel Eliot Wolf had to nail. While New England's rookies have yet to play an NFL down, the promise around the rookie class, led by Will Campbell, Kyle Williams, and TreVeyon Henderson, is higher than any in quite some time.
That's what the Patriots need as they look to regain respectability in the AFC and rebound from back-to-back 4-13 seasons. Campbell is expected to solve the Patriots' left tackle issues, Henderson is the prototypical hybrid running back who can explode at any time, and the receiving core needs Williams to produce.
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovskyanalyst believes that this could be New England's best rookie class in generations, and that this class will be one of the big reasons why the Patriots turn things around this season.
"If those three rookies can be big-time players for the Patriots, there's a chance this organization and team are going to make noise a lot sooner than people expect," Orvlosky said on ESPN's "NFL Live" recently. "The Patriots' first three picks, I'm obsessed with them. Kyle Williams, I think Kyle Williams has a chance to be as impactful a rookie receiver as we have in the NFL this year."
Rookie trio will lead Patriots back to the playoffs
It's pretty straightforward when you think about it. Campbell is tasked with protecting Drake Maye's blindside. Henderson's penchant for exploding out of the backfield will force opponents to respect each aspect of his game. Williams should give the Patriots a viable deep threat on the outside.
While Maye's development is arguably the most critical piece to New England's puzzle, the aforementioned rookie trio could very well be among the pieces that were missing from the moribund offense that was on the field the last couple of years.
Henderson and Williams could even steal some of Travis Hunter's thunder if they produce more offensively and the Patriots have a better record than Hunter's Jaguars, which is possible.
The Patriots' rookies are flying under the radar somewhat, and that's not a bad thing. Orvlosky's respect is a sign that Wolf made the right choices in the draft this spring. And Williams, Henderson, and Campbell will be a big reason why the Patriots could make the playoffs this season.