MORSE: My Patriots Mock Draft Ahead of The 2025 NFL Draft
Two possible Patriots Mock Draft scenarios ahead of Thursday night's first round selections.
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This is my Mock Draft, not what I think the Patriots will do. If Abdul Carter is available at #4, I cannot pass up what I consider a generational talent and the second-best athlete in this draft. Do I go against the “The Packer Way” and give up premium draft capital to get back into the 1st Round and take a Left Tackle? This is a huge risk, especially if I don’t have trade parameters in place before the draft to get back into the 1st round. Trading back into the 1st round is dead set against the risk adverse “Packer Way” instituted by Eliot Wolf’s father Ron Wolf, the Hall of Fame GM in Green Bay. Further, the “Packer Way” does not want to give up draft capital either.
Even if Carter is at #4, I am listening to trade offers just in case there is a ridiculous offer like the one Nick “Fitzy” Stevens posted of PHI trading AJ Brown, 2025 1st, 2025 2nd and another sweetener pick for #4. The general consensus is that nobody is willing to give up draft capital to move up to #4. That includes teams that could use QB Shedeur Sanders. If it is “stick and pick,” then I select Will Campbell to play LT and take TE Mason Taylor with the 2nd pick.
1-4 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State – enough said!
I can’t trade back into the 1st round, and I am forced to play out the rest of the draft.
2-38 Donovan Jackson OT/OG Ohio State – I have Aireontae Ersery T Minnesota being taken by Kansas City near the end of the 1st round. Jackson is the #2 rated Guard in the draft behind Tyler Booker. If Jackson is taken ahead of Booker in the 1st round, then my selection of a defensive player over a Left Tackle is a failure. Jackson filled in for Josh Simmons when he went down with 4 games left in the regular season. Jackson was stellar in the college playoffs helping Ohio State to the National Championship. Chip Kelly the Offensive Coordinator called Jackson the Unsung Hero after the Texas playoff game where he gave up zero pressures. That’s an SEC Team with 3 Defensive Linemen that will be drafted. By taking Jackson I lose out on any chance taking TE Mason Taylor, one of my draft binkies
3- 69 Ozzie Trapilo OT Boston College – Double Dip – The massive 6’8” tackle started as a Left Tackle at BC before moving to Right Tackle. Last season, Patriots O Line coach Doug Marrone, worked with Bill O’Brien at BC and is very familiar with Trapilo. This off-season Trapilo has been under the tutelage of Dante Scarnecchia. This pick makes too much sense. Morgan Moses is not a long-term solution at Right Tackle. Can Caeden Wallace play RT? I don’t know because he can’t stay healthy.
3-77 Andrew Makuba S Texas – Another sneaky need for the Patriots. They added Marcus Epps who is coming off a Torn ACL injury. I don’t want to see Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers or Dell Pettus playing deep safety. None are fast enough. Makuba ran a 4.45 40 at the Combine. He was selected as a Freshman All-American at Clemson and made 3rd Team All-ACC in 2021. Transferred to Texas to play in the SEC and had 5 Interceptions playing for Texas and was selected as 3rd Team All-SEC in 2024.
4-106 Damien Martinez RB Miami – The 6 foot, 217-pound back is a bruiser. Mike Vrabel likes big backs. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash which is respectable given his size. He is just 21 years old and doesn’t turn 22 until the season is nearly over. In his three years of college ball, he ran for 982, 1185 and 1011 yards in each season. Martinez started at Oregon State and was Offensive Freshman of the Year and 1st team All-PAC 10. He followed that up with an even better Sophomore year and another 1st team All-PAC 10 selection. He transferred to Miami for his final season. In his first two seasons he fumbled 5 times but at Miami he had no fumbles. There hasn’t been any confirmed contact between the Patriots and Martinez. The only hook is that Vrabel likes big backs, and Martinez is one of the most productive big backs in the draft.
5-144 Issac TeSlaa WR Arkansas – I have taken TeSlaa in every draft. He is the one player that I would be Pounding the Table (PTT) for. TeSlaa was badly misused at Arkansas but still managed to average 19.5 YPC in 2024.
5-171 KeAndre Lambert – Smith WR Auburn You can’t coach speed and Lambert-Smith is fast, 4.37 40-yard dash fats. He also turned in an astonishing 3.98 Short Shuttle, which would be the first receiver since Julian Edelman to have that kind of short area quickness.
7- 220 Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks RB USC – No college back was an equivalent to Marks as a pass catcher. In his career he had 267 receptions. This is what NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Marks: “What makes Marks unique is his remarkable consistency and durability throughout his collegiate journey. He appeared in 56 games with 32 starts, missing just one contest in five seasons. He leaves college with an astounding 214 receptions, including a stretch of 45 consecutive games with a catch – the longest active streak in the nation. At Mississippi State (4-years), he rewrote the record books, setting new marks for receptions by a running back (214) and receiving yards by a back (1,225), showcasing his dual-threat capabilities that translated perfectly to his final season at USC.” In 2024 he transferred to USC and ran for an impressive 1133 yards, 5.7 YPC with 9 TDs. Add in another 47 receptions for 321 yards. He is 6’10” 205-pounds and ran a 4.54 40-yard dash.
7- 238 Ryan Fitzgerald K Florida State – The Patriots need a kicker and Fitzgerald made 13 of 13 kicks during 2024 including 5 from beyond 50 yards and one from 59 yards. He had a private workout with the Pats. Fitzgerald was selected as 3rd Team All-ACC kicker behind Andre Borragales (Miami) and Ben Sauls (Pittsburgh) both of whom have had workouts for the Patriots.
1-4 Will Campbell OT LSU – everyone knows about Campbell. He is the safe pick. Leader, nasty finisher, is like a coach on the field and interviewed very well. Played at a high level in the SEC. Could be an All-Pro for many years at either Tackle or at Guard. We need both.
2-38 Mason Taylor TE LSU – son of Hall of Fame DE Jason Taylor and nephew of Dolphins great LB Zach Thomas. Doesn’t need to rest on their laurels. I think he is the best TE in the draft and was badly underutilized at LSU. His gauntlet drill at the Combine was near perfection. TE is a need because Henry and Hooper are both 30 going on 31 this season.
3rd round and beyond – the same as the Carter scenario
Kayshon Boutte the Odd Man Out
Adam Schefter has posted that Boutte is the odd man out from the Patriots WR Room. I have to think that Schefter knows that Boutte is being shopped by the Patriots. probably for a late draft pick.
Etienne works out for Patriots
The Patriots had a late 30 Visit with Georgia RB Trevor Etienne. The Bulldog product is just 21 and has never had a large workload in college. He is just 5’9″ 200- pounds and is shifty and elusive. At the combine, he ran 4.42 40-yard dash.
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April 9 - April 24 (Through 26yrs)
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wow usually Morse is spot on but he’s lost me here. Does Morse expect to start Lowe is we take Carter at 4? I sure hope if we take Carter at 4 we are able to move up and draft Conerly or preferrable Banks.
I expect to start Jackson who didn’t give up a sack in 4 playoff games against three of the Top Defenses in college football. He is a vastly underrated player. All-American and 3x All-Big 10. 38 career starts in Big 10. Campbell had 39 starts in SEC. Nick Cattles suggests the Pats take Campbell at 4 and double dip with Jackson at 38, an intriguing scenario.
can we trade Duggar and/or Tavai and our 2nd to move up to take Banks or Conerly?
After the draft I will write about moving Dugger to LB. Tavai has little or no trade value. He would be a throw in as part of bigger deal just to move him off the roster. I think he will be a June 1st cut to spread the dead money hit.
The most likely trade partner would be Minnesota at 24 because they only have 4 picks in this draft.