Visualizing the draft trades, 2025 edition

[ctpatsfan77]

I did this a few years ago, but last year was a dud in the trade department (thanks, Jerod).

This year Vrabes was in the Belichick mode after the first three picks. Here's what they started with:

4 || 38 || 69 77 || 106 || 144 171 || — || 220 238

Vrabel's first trade came trading down with Carolina at 77, picking up a fifth.

4 || 38 || 69 85 || 106 || 144 146 171 || — || 220 238

He then traded 85 to the Chiefs, picking up a 2026 pick from Chicago(!).

4 || 38 || 69 95 || 106 || 144 146 171 || — || 220 238 || 2026 CHI 4

Next, he traded up with Seattle from 144.

4 || 38 || 69 95 || 106 || 137 146 171 || — || 220 || 2026 CHI 4

He then traded down with Detroit.

4 || 38 || 69 95 || 106 || 137 146 || 182 || 220 228 || 2026 CHI 4

Finally, he made one more trade with the Chefs, picking up the Mr. Irrelevant pick. [Fun fact: an NFL rule prohibits teams from getting the Mr. Irrelevant pick by stalling on making their own pick.]

4 || 38 || 69 95 || 106 || 137 146 || 182 || 220 251 257 || 2026 CHI 4

So, comparing the start to the finish, 5 picks:
— || — || 77 || — || 144 171 || — || 220 238
became 6 picks this year and a pick next year:
— || — || 95 || — || 137 146 || 182 || 251 257 || 2026 CHI 4

 

[Triumph]

The 2026 draft is supposed to be blockbuster good.

Lots of QBs and I believe that Arch Manning could declare which bodes well for the Pats because they wont be selecting top 5 again.

 

[State]

I think the Patriots did a very good job with the trades. Until the last one. Thank you for this. Valuable service!

 

[patchick]

Thanks for this! If you’ll forgive a moment of data viz geekery, I think a modified parallel coordinates plot would be interesting for showing trade flow. You’d have to get creative to display picks from different years, maybe a dotted line?