The Patriots' dismal 2024 season is over. The critical 2025 offseason has begun, and it began with a bang. Owner Robert Kraft acted decisively and fired first-year Head Coach Jerod Mayo. A new era will begin again. The only question is who will conduct the offseason when good teams are built.
Whoever it is, two components must be aced if this team, with arguably the worst roster in the NFL, is to claw its way back to prominence. It's not going to be an easy climb back. But as Lao Tzu said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Free agency will precede the draft. Whoever is in control of personnel has to add NFL-proven quality there. Wide receiver is a key position to target. The team has lots of cap space, and a good portion of that cash should go to one or two wide receivers, a WR1, and a solid second receiver. That position, among others, needs a massive clearout and reworking.
"Let's GO," as Tom Brady says, and conduct a draft assuming that the personnel director "gets it," and he and the new Head Coach will be able to deliver quality receivers for Drake Maye in free agency.
The Patriots trade down and select Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9
Having muffed their chance at the first overall pick and the riches in draft picks that would have brought, the Patriots are set with the fourth pick overall in the 2025 draft. That pick still has a lot of value, so the Patriots cash in and trade down from four to nine and garner two extra picks.
The Pats send pick No. four to New Orleans for picks nine, 40, and 250. The keys obviously are nine and 40. At nine the Pats go right after their weakest position and shore it up in style. They draft offensive left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Banks, a 6'4", 320-pound left tackle as their second-best in the draft. In the same article, PFF lists the big Longhorn tackle's strengths,
"Strengths:
• Flexible hips and wide base for a powerful, wide stance
• Foot speed/explosiveness is top-tier
• Can move while in a squatted position (low pad level)
• Great second-level/space blocker
• Natural athleticism gives him high zone-blocking potential
• Really impressive balance for a player 320-plus pounds"
While he may not possess prototypical length for a left tackle, his talent will more than compensate for any deficiencies. With Banks, who many prefer over the top-rated tackle, Will Campbell of LSU, the Patriots add a top prospect to their weakest position.
Patriots select EDGE Princely Umanmielen from Florida with No. 37
The edge position is among the Patriots' worst. They traded their best, Matt Judon, and second-best, Joshua Uche, and were left with little talent there. The position needs a complete makeover and In the second round with their own pick, No. 37 they go right for a top pass-rushing edge in Princely Umanmielen from Mississippi.
Umanmielen has great size, at 6'4" and 260 pounds. In 2024, he racked up 37 total stops with an impressive 10.5 sacks. The Pats need a pass-rusher who can get sacks. Umanmielen is one of those. thedraftnetwork.com notes his pass-rushing skills,
"Known for his raw athleticism and bend around the corner at 255 pounds, Umanmielen has shown that he can capitalize with both speed and power to win isolated matchups. With ideal body mass for an NFL edge rusher, his range of movement and athletic profile, combined with a relentless motor, has been instrumental in his ascent as a premier sack artist."
Patriots double-dip at tackle and select Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota at No. 40
With New Orleans's second-round pick, No. 40, the Patriots go back to the offensive left tackle spot and take massive Minnesota tackle, Aireontae Ersery, a 6'6', 330-pound mauler. The tackle position was a disaster in 2024 having received little attention in the 2024 off-season. That all changes with a second top pick attributed to the left tackle position.
Here's some of what bleacherreport.com notes about the big, Golden Gopher's tackle,
"Ersery is a well-versed zone run blocker with good pace and feel on combo blocks to get into proper fits, overtake and release on time. He shows solid athletic ability to gain ground laterally to cut off the backside, line up backers on climbs and pulls around the edge. Ersery shows good competitive toughness and physicality as a finisher to strain and set the tone...He will get over-aggressive, two-hand strike and overextend on kick-out blocks that stutters and slants across his face can slip by with ease.
"In pass protection Ersery has good footwork in his sets to work at a 45-degree angle, get vertical and expand his set points against upfield, high-side rushes and power step with an effective 'catch' hand to close the door on inside counters. Ersery quickly sorts basic line games and stunts with proper spacing and timing. He also flashes the snatch-trap technique to defeat the long-arm and circle punch technique to work around swipes/chops to the outside. While Ersery can defeat outside swipes/cross-chops, he can be late with his strike and is susceptible to being set up and baited by tempo, stutters and hesitations that creates a short corner."
Patriots select EDGE Jack Sawyer from Ohio State at No. 68
Continuing to draft for need positions and to select consensus players, the Patriots with their own third-round pick, No. 68 select Ohio State edge, Jack Sawyer. The 6'4", 240-pound Buckeye had a productive season. He racked up 53 total stops, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles, and five pass breakups.
The Pats in the first three rounds have now bolstered two of their top three weakest positions, left tackle and edge with two quality draftees in each. nfldraftbuzz.com notes,
"Jack Sawyer is a high-motor defensive end with a solid blend of power and versatility, traits that NFL scouts value highly. His ability to set the edge and maintain gap discipline, combined with his explosive first step, makes him a disruptive force in the backfield. Sawyer's relentless pursuit and variety in pass-rush moves, including a potent bull rush, are assets that will translate well at the next level."
With the No. 77 pick, the Patriots select TE Mason Taylor from LSU
With Atlanta's third-round pick acquired in the Judon trade, the Patriots go offense and add a young tight end to the basically over-30 unit, featuring Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. They select LSU tight end, Mason Taylor.
The Tiger's 6'5", 256-pound tight end had a great season with 55 catches for 546 yards and two TDs. the33rdteam.com talks about the big LSU tight end and his versatility,
"LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor projects as an impactful receiving threat at the NFL level. Taylor offers fluidity at plus size and sure hands, which should allow him to be an authentic matchup problem for the blend of linebackers and safeties he will catch in coverage while running routes.
"Taylor plays at nearly a 50/50 split of in-line and slot assignments — a testament to his versatility at one of the more challenging positions to be diverse. Taylor offers effective run-after-catch and contested-catch ability for receiving in space and traffic, respectively, and his growth as a downfield receiver this season bodes well for his impact potential as a long-term developmental starter. "
Patriots trade in the 4th round - select DT Shemar Turner from Texas A&M at No. 118
In the fourth round, the Patriots again trade down. This time they send their 106th and 240th picks to Cincinnati for the Bengals 118th and 153rd picks. With defensive tackle a need, the Patriots add one to the room using the 118th pick in the fourth round acquired from the Bengals. It's Shemar Turner from Texas A&M.
Defensive tackle is a position in flux for the Patriots. Two rising NFL stars are stalwarts. These are Christian Barmore, who has unfortunately experienced some health issues, and Keion White, who was misused extensively by both BiIl Belichick and Jerod Mayo as an edge. Hopefully, the new coach will position him inside in a gap, his best position.
Free agent Daniel Ekuale is a decent backup but a free agent. Davon Godchaux is a nose tackle and run-stuffer. With Barmore's and Ekuale's situations unclear, the Pats needed to bolster the position in this draft and they did so with Turner.
Turner is a 6'4", 285-pound DT. In 2024, he notched 36 stops with six tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. He'll be a depth piece should Ekuale depart. Turner fits the profile of a new-age Patriots defensive tackle with his versatility and mobility. Here's how nfldraftbuzz.com describes his play,
"Shemar Turner projects as a scheme-specific contributor with the potential to develop into a more impactful player. His versatility to play multiple positions along the defensive line will be attractive to teams employing multiple fronts. Turner's blend of size, strength, and athleticism suggests he could thrive in a system that utilizes him as a moveable chess piece, exploiting favorable matchups."
The Patriots select RB Dylan Sampson from Tennessee with No. 142
The Patriots running back room is in need of reinforcement. With this in mind, the Patriots use their own pick in the fifth round, No. 142, and select a dynamic runner, Dylan Sampson, a 5'11", 190-pounder from Tennessee. Sampson racked up 1491 yards on the ground with 22 TDs for the Vols! He also added 20 catches for another 143 yards to his totals.
thedraftnetwork.com comments on the back's style,
"Sampson excels at running the ball with a versatile style. He is a multi-speed back capable of adjusting his tempo in both crowded trenches and the open field. Between the tackles, he demonstrates patience and a keen anticipation of second-level movement, doing an excellent job of pressing his blocks. He’s also highly aware of his running lane, expertly feeling and exploiting the defense’s leverage."
WR Jaylin Noel from Iowa State is the Patriots pick at No. 153
With the 153rd pick in the fifth round acquired from Cincinnati, the Pats select Iowa State wide receiver, Jaylin Noel. The 5'11", 200-pound Noel had a terrific year for the Cyclones with an impressive 80 catches for 1194 yards and eight TDs.
nfldraftbuzz.com cites the all-important ability to separate among the Cyclones star's attributes,
"Noel's quick-twitch athleticism and refined route-running make him an intriguing slot receiver prospect for the NFL. His ability to create separation in tight spaces, coupled with his vision and acceleration after the catch, should translate well to the next level. While his frame may limit his effectiveness as an outside receiver, Noel's versatility to line up across the formation and contribute in the return game adds significant value to his draft stock."
The Patriots select S Xavier Nwankpa from Iowa with No. 216
The Patriots have three seventh-round picks and they use them to add depth pieces to three positions. First, with pick No. 216 acquired from Tenessee in the Nick Folk trade, the Pats selected Xavier Nwankpa, a 6'2", 215-pound safety from Iowa. nfldraftbuzz.com has this to say about the big Hawkeye safety,
"Looking ahead to his NFL prospects, Nwankpa projects as a versatile safety with the potential to make an immediate impact in various defensive schemes. His rare combination of size, speed, and instincts makes him an attractive option for teams seeking a playmaker in the secondary. Nwankpa's ability to play both deep and in the box will allow defensive coordinators to deploy him in multiple ways, creating mismatches and confusion for opposing offenses."
The Patriots select DT Alfred Collins from Texas with pick No. 219
With their own pick, No. 219, they add more depth to the defensive tackle position in Alfred Collins, a 6'5", 320-pound tackle from Texas. thedraftnetwork.com notes this about the developmental prospect,
"Despite his inconsistency, there are still enough flashes on tape to keep me interested in Collins. He checks all the physical boxes, but his play on the field still seems to be in early development. If an organization can effectively continue to grow Collins’ game, there’s no doubt he could be a high-level starter in the league."
The Patriots boost their offensive line with C Jonah Monheim from USC with pick No. 250
With their last pick in the 2025 draft, No. 250 acquired in the trade with New Orleans, the Pats wrap things up by adding to another position of need, offensive center. They select Jonah Monheim from USC. Monheim at 6'5", 305 pounds has great size for the position. bleacherreport.com comments on the big center,
"Monheim is a loose, fluid run blocker with good quickness out of his stance, pad level and tight hand placement. This allows him to hook the shade on zone, get inside/underneath his target on double-teams and close space quickly on back blocks... He is an asset on screens, pulls and climbs where his angles and quicks allow him to close space and regularly intersect smaller targets...
"In pass protection Monheim's movement skills allow him to shift his weight laterally and mirror speed moves and sub-package rushers with the processing skills to pass and pick up basic line games and stunts..."
This seven-round, 11-pick Patriots' mock draft filled many holes on the Swiss-cheese-like Patriots roster. Key positions like offensive left tackle and edge are prioritized with two high picks each. A tight-end and defensive tackles are also prioritized. Add a top free-agent class, and the next Patriots head coach should have plenty of new talent to mold into a competitive team.