Before we dive in, let’s just clarify what we’re grading here. A lot of people think you can’t grade a draft for years because these players haven’t even seen the field yet – and they are wrong. What we’re doing here is grading things like team fit, talent level, and draft/positional value. In a few years, we can revisit this draft and grade the players based on performance.
The Patriots were somewhere between god awful and terrible in 2024, yet they probably had the most successful season of any team in the division relative to their expectations and goals. They appear to have their QB of the future on the roster in Drake Maye, a.k.a. Justin Herbert from Wish. Having found their QB, they clearly decided to support him as best they could (take notes, Miami), and spent their first four picks on offense before pivoting to defense, special teams, and depth on Day 3 of the draft.
The class:
1.4 – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Campbell’s tape looks damn good for an offensive tackle and the SEC is well known for turning out quality offensive linemen. There was a lot of pre-draft chatter about his arm length, but he was playing against a lot of NFL caliber defensive ends while in college and didn’t have much of a problem. Time will tell if he’ll need to shift inside, but this is a great pick that fills a major need to protect Drake Maye.
2.6 – TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Another good pick, as a good running game is a young QB’s best friend. I actually mocked Henderson to the Patriots in the second round, so clearly I am prophetic. You could say this isn’t much of a need pick, since the Patriots recently paid Stevenson and Gibson, but Henderson has the potential to be a bellcow 3-down back.
3.5 – Kyle Williams, WR, Washingston State
The Patriots avoided their 2nd round WR curse by waiting until the third to get someone for Drake Maye to throw to. Williams was a target I had in mind for the Bills to pick up after trading back to into the third, and I honestly think he was overdrafted at 3.5, but you can’t deny he fills a big need for the Patriots’ offense. He has great, but not elite speed, and he plays bigger than his size, but his real gift is creating separation with above-average route running. Plus he has an great opportunity to learn how to be a diva WR from Stefon Diggs, you can’t beat that value.
3.31 – Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
Another pick to protect Maye, Jared Wilson is a very athletic center and I had him at the top of my list of centers. The Patriots signed Garrett Bradbury in free agency, so Wilson projects to be depth in 2025, but he’s a high upside pick who will be ready to go in 2026, when Bradbury is age 31 and can be easily cut with minimal dead cap.
4.4 – Craig Woodson, S, California
I can’t say I scouted Woodson very heavily, my focus was on higher upside safeties in the first two rounds, but he’s reasonably athletic with good size and he has long-term starter experience in college. He projects more as a box safety in the NFL, but I don’t see him as much of a depth piece for at least a couple seasons Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers on the roster. He could turn into an average starter with good coaching, though.
4.35 – Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
Well, since the Bills already have Josh the Farmer, the Patriots had to get their own. It is a copycat league, after all. Unfortunately, this Josh doesn’t project to be the game changer the Bills currently have on the their roster. However, he does have a lot of talent and in a lesser draft class, I could easily see him being taken late on Day 2. He’s a pretty good gap shooting 3T DT with good measurables and solid college production, but the Patriots base D is 3-4 and I don’t see him being a very good fit. He’ll have to play as a big EDGE more than his natural role and it remains to be seen how he will adjust.
5.8 – Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU
Another one I’m not so sure of as far as team fit goes, Swinson is more of a power EDGE and I don’t know how well that fits with a base 3-4, I like more speed rushing in my OLBs. Maybe Meathead Vrabel has some new ideas for the defense, we’ll just have to see. Swinson did have a Day 2 grade on him, so I think this could be a steal in the fifth round, if he pans out.
6.6 – Andres Borregales, PK, Miami
I mean, he’s a place kicker. What do you want me to say?
7.4 – Marcus Bryant, OT, Missouri
Bryant is an absolutely huge dude, but he needs a lot of seasoning before he’ll be anything more than a depth piece at the OL. He’s got plus athleticism and with good coaching he could develop, but I don’t think Vrabel can coax Scar out of retirement again. He’s very tall and like most tall guys, he plays high. A powerful EDGE with a lower pad level will easily move him off his spot.
7.35 – Julian Ashby, LS, Vanderbilt
I mean, he’s a long snapper. What do you want me to say?
7.41 – Kobee Minor, CB, Memphis
2025’s Mr. Irrelevant, Minor has decent size and a lot of experience. He could make the 53 as a special teamer, which will probably thrill Vinny, but I don’t see him ever starting unless there’s a rash of injuries in the secondary. I could see a world where he transitions to safety, but depth there is already decent. He does have good tackling skills, but he often takes a poor angle and he lacks the athleticism to make up for it. When he makes contact, though, he usually gets the guy on the ground.
Grade: A-
This was a really good draft, one of the benefits of having a ton of holes on the roster is that it’s easy to pick players who fill needs and are good value at their point in the draft. If Drake Maye doesn’t have a sophomore slump, the Patriots should be a lot better this year.
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