Patriots' 2025 Mock Draft after finalized roster moves for this season
The 2024 New England Patriots training camp and preseason games are history, and the evaluations of many players who'll make up the 2024 Patriots' squad are in the books. After this process, the composition of the 2024 team is essentially clear. Thus, it makes sense to look ahead to the 2025 draft to fill in the obvious holes.
Unfortunately, there are a bunch of them, and some are significant. Standing out is the dearth of anyone who can play left tackle (absent maybe Mike Onwenu) the team's second most critical position (after quarterback). They are also light at defensive tackle, with star Christian Barmore sidelined for health reasons. Both need to be addressed.
Additionally, the Pats still need a No. One wide receiver (although that's not likely to happen in this draft, but maybe in free agency?) and help at the edge. This is essential after the team foolishly traded their best player, Matt Judon, for a third-round draft pick.
So here we go, a post-preseason and training camp Mock Draft seeking to fill the major holes in the Patriots roster. The draft plus free agency will have to do in the 2025 offseason what Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf and his team failed to do in the 2024 offseason to get better.
Thanks to profootballnetwork.com for the use of their Mock Draft simulator.
The Patriots go for their most important need after a draft trade-down
In his best move of the 2024 offseason, Eliot Wolf filled the Patriots' most important position, the quarterback. His drafting of Drake Maye while eschewing silly calls to trade down was his best move of the offseason, bar none. The Patriots have their starting quarterback in Maye.
He didn't address the second most pressing need on the team, the left tackle position. Wolf's blunders in the offseason have delivered a poor prognosis for the 2024 season. This simulator lands the Pats once again the third-overall pick. Not a great optic there. Wolf, in 2025, will draft an offensive tackle, this time after a trade-down with Tampa Bay.
Wolf does the right thing and deals the third-overall pick for top value. In his trade with Tampa Bay, he receives picks 11, 43, and 75, all premium picks in the first three rounds. Wolf doesn't need a QB, but others may, and he reaps solid value for the third-overall pick.
With his first pick at No. 11, Wolf goes to the offensive tackle well. While no left tackle warrants this high pick, he takes the best overall tackle in the draft. That's Emery Jones of LSU. Wherever he plays, Jones will be a plug-and-play starter.
While he's been a right tackle, Jones has the size and length to play on the left side. Will he? Who knows, but wherever he's slotted in, he'll be better than what the team has now if Mike Onwenu is still playing guard. If you're going to bet on a right tackle to maybe make the transition to the left, then Jones is your guy.
Whatever the case, Jones provides the best profile for the Patriots. While his teammate and LSU left tackle, Will Campbell, is rated higher by some, his relatively short arms are an issue. Jones is listed at 6'6" and 315 pounds, and his length is fine. That's what you want and need in your tackles. Here's what nfldraftbuzz.com has to say about the huge LSU Tigers' tackle,
"Jones projects as a solid NFL starter with the potential to excel in both pass protection and run blocking. He has the tools and physicality to be a standout offensive lineman. With some coaching to fine-tune his technique, Jones could develop into a key player on any NFL offensive line, offering a strong presence whether in pass protection or paving the way in the run game."