As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, the New England Patriots are staring down a critical opportunity to reshape their roster. With nine total picks, including No. 4 overall, expectations are sky-high.
Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, edge rusher Abdul Carter, offensive tackle Will Campbell, and even running back Ashton Jeanty remain firmly in play depending on how the board breaks, but there’s also growing speculation that New England could trade down or even surprise with a wild card pick.
Regardless of what happens, one thing is clear: the Patriots need to come away with legitimate starters. That hasn’t always been a given. Despite a few hits in recent years, the draft has been more miss than masterpiece for the franchise once known for uncovering hidden gems. With that in mind, here’s a look back at the best Patriots pick in each round from the past five years.
Round 1: Christian Gonzalez, CB (2023)
The Patriots have not been the best at acquiring top-end talent in the first round, and that has clearly plagued them for the better part of the post-Tom Brady years. However, back-to-back drafts have secured cornerstones on both sides of the ball. Gonzalez gets the nod here over second-year quarterback Drake Maye. While Maye showed flashes of being great, he’s not up there yet with the 22-year-old CB.
Gonzalez’s rookie season went about as poorly as it could have. An injury cost him his season before it ever truly began. But he bounced back in Year 2, solidifying himself as one of the bright young corners in the league. This kid has “special” written all over him and is the only choice at this moment in time.
Round 2: Christian Barmore, DL (2021)
Kyle Dugger made the exercise a bit more difficult, but Barmore is the guy. It is ultimately splitting hairs, and if you argue Dugger, your opinion is valid, but Barmore’s highs hint at a more productive and game-changing level, placing him ahead of Dugger.
Barmore’s 2024 season was cut short due to injuries, but his 2023 season flashed the dominance. He posted a career-high 8.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the most-feared defensive linemen in the league. If he can bounce back in ‘25, there’s no reason to think he won’t earn his first Pro Bowl nod.
Round 3: Marcus Jones, CB (2022)
Jones gets the edge thanks to his versatility. While not a shutdown corner, he’s played key defensive snaps, returned kicks, and even contributed on offense in gadget packages.
His 2022 rookie season alone—where he notched a punt return touchdown, an interception, and a receiving touchdown—showed how valuable he can be in all three phases of the game. New England doesn’t have many players like that.
Round 4: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB (2021)
A bit of a no-brainer here. Stevenson quickly emerged as the best back on the roster, racking up just over 4,000 scrimmage yards over his first four seasons. While ball security has been an issue, he’s still the most dynamic and reliable back the team has had since James White. When healthy, he’s a top-15 running back in the league.
Round 5: Antonio Mafi, OL (2023)
The options in Round 5 are underwhelming, but Mafi has the makings of a future high-end depth piece. He made multiple appearances on the offensive line as a rookie, showing improvement as a run-blocker and versatility along the interior. While the jury’s still out, his developmental upside (and lack of legitimate competition) gives him the edge here.
Mafi was waived and then later signed by the Indianapolis Colts.
Round 6: Michael Onwenu, OT (2020)
An absolute steal in the sixth round, Onwenu has started at right tackle and both guard spots since being drafted. He’s the definition of plug-and-play, with power, awareness, and durability that’s kept him on the field while others cycled in and out. Easily one of the best value picks of the Belichick era’s later years.
Round 7: Isaiah Bolden, CB (2023)
This was one of the easier choices. While Bolden still hasn’t carved out a role for himself in the secondary, his special teams ability and lack of competition shore up his spot. Last year’s FB/TE Jaheim Bell is really the only other player in contention, but the nod is going to Bolden.
Former Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo even went so far as to call Bolden a “special teams demon,” highlighting his perceived effectiveness and potential on New England’s coverage units.