The Draft is such a crapshoot.\u00a0 Felger and Mazz on Sports Hub 98.5 throw a football with a marker in the tip, against a white board that has Lindy\u2019s Draft Annual magazine open. \u00a0\u00a0Surprisingly they occasionally hit on a player the Patriots draft.\u00a0 They make three \u201cselections\u201d (throws) on different pages for each position.\u00a0 An example, the first toss was off the page, but the rule is closest name to the spot.\u00a0 It happened to be OT Josh Conerly.\u00a0 We are also running a draft contest that gives you 9 picks and we try and see who gets the most right.\u00a0 If you get two correct you are doing good.<\/p>\n
I am using a combination of poster, BaconGrundleCandy\u2019s Patriots type players Horizontal Draft Board and The Athletics Dane Brugler Top 300 Big Board.\u00a0 BGC posts in the Patriots Forum and does an extensive list of college players that would be coming out for the draft.\u00a0 In addition, he creates a Horizontal Draft Board that groups the players as potential stars to Day 1 starter all the way to \u201cTake a Shot\u201d type of players.\u00a0 I like to use his draft board of potential Patriots type players for my Final Mock Draft.\u00a0 This Final Mock Draft is what I think the Patriots will do tonight, not what I would do.<\/p>\n
The Patriots and Eliot Wolf are going to be cautious and conservative.\u00a0 They cannot afford to come out of this draft with as bad a class as they had last year.\u00a0 \u00a0Last year\u2019s draft was based upon the scouting system implemented by Bill Belichick.\u00a0 The term \u201cThe hay is already in the barn\u201d refers to the fact that the scouting documentation had already been completed using the Belichick system and not the new system being implemented by Eliot Wolf.\u00a0 This will be the 1st<\/sup> draft under that new system.<\/p>\n Last season Wolf made what should have been a career ending blunder in trading with the LA Chargers and giving up a chance to take Ladd McConkey.\u00a0 In return they selected the two worst WRs in the league last year Ja\u2019Lynn Polk (PFF Rating of 133 out of 133) and Javon Baker (1reception on 4 targets for 12 yards).<\/p>\n Not only did they make a bad trade, but the Front Office was unprepared for the run on Offensive Tackles that occurred in the 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> rounds which left them reaching for a Tackle they liked but played Right Tackle in college.\u00a0 It has been reported that they tried unsuccessfully to trade up in the 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> rounds to take a Tackle but couldn\u2019t find a trade partner.\u00a0 They thought they had a trade with Buffalo, but they just used (and abused) them to get a better offer.\u00a0 They took Caeden Wallace a round too early and quickly found out that he couldn\u2019t play Left Tackle.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t stay heathy enough to get any benefit out of his rookie season.<\/p>\n What will the Patriots Do<\/strong><\/p>\n First, the Patriots will investigate the possibility of trading for disgruntled Las Vegas Left Tackle Kolton Miller.\u00a0 If they can swing that trade before or during the draft, it fills the biggest need on the team.\u00a0 What would the compensation be straight up for Miller?\u00a0 Perhaps their 4th<\/sup> #106th<\/sup> pick because the Patriots would need to have sign and trade deal done before the trade can be consummated.\u00a0 I\u2019m estimating a three year $20M per year deal.\u00a0 I would go as far as trading their second 3rd<\/sup> round pick #77 (Matthew Judon trade) for Miller.\u00a0 I would entertain a swap of picks with the Raiders and include the Miller trade as part of it.\u00a0 That would end up being #4 and #106 for #6, #40 and Miller.\u00a0 That proposal could be while the Patriots are on the clock.\u00a0 The Patriots love Jalon Walker, and if they have their Left Tackle solved that frees them up to take Walker.\u00a0 The Raiders would get Ashton Jeanty by jumping over Jacksonville.<\/p>\n Will the Patriots choose EDGE Abdul Carter if he is there at #4? \u00a0If the Patriots do choose a player other than a Left Tackle, will they be able to trade back into the 1st<\/sup> round? Leading up to the draft, teams inquire about possible trades if the right circumstances present themselves.\u00a0 One of the most likely teams that could trade their 1st<\/sup> Round pick is Minnesota who only has 4 draft picks.\u00a0 The general consensus is that teams do not want to part with multiple picks in this draft.\u00a0 If amenable the Patriots might have a trade partner at #24 if they wanted to take a defensive player at 4 and then make the trade to get back into the 1st<\/sup> round.\u00a0 This is a very risky move, and the Patriots just might get shut out of selecting a good Left Tackle.\u00a0 This scenario is unlikely because they can\u2019t leave this draft without a Left Tackle.\u00a0 Kansas City is rumored to be investigating moving up in the draft to select a Tackle.<\/p>\n The rumor that Philadelphia is interested in acquiring the #4 pick if Abdul Carter is on the board has been debunked by numerous sources. \u00a0\u00a0That trade would include AJ Brown.\u00a0 To make that trade Philly would have to eat too much dead money.<\/p>\n This who I believe the Past will take.<\/p>\n 1-4 Will Campbell OT LSU<\/strong> \u2013 He is the safest pick in the draft.\u00a0 If he doesn\u2019t make it at Tackle he will be a very good Guard.\u00a0 He has a strong character; he is durable as evident of his 38 starts in the SEC.\u00a0 You want your Offensive lineman to have that nasty streak, and Campbell checks that box too.\u00a0 \u00a0The Patriots had Campbell in for a 30 Visit.<\/p>\n 2-Mason Taylor TE LSU <\/strong>\u2013 This pick fills both Best Player Available and an area of need.\u00a0 The Patriots met with Taylor at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.\u00a0 I have had Taylor in nearly all of my Mock Drafts.\u00a0 He has that rare combination of size, speed, and catching ability.\u00a0 He posted 28 reps on the Bench Press at his Pro Day which would have been #2 at the TE position at the Combine.\u00a0 He is decent blocker but needs improvement there.\u00a0 I have raved about his gauntlet drill at the combine.\u00a0 It was near perfection, and he was running full speed.\u00a0 The PFF model does not like Taylor at this spot.\u00a0 I disagree with them because of position scarcity and the obvious Patriots need.\u00a0 Dane Brugler has Taylor ranked #44 on his Top 300 players Big Board, and I have seen him rated as high as #33.<\/p>\n 3-69 Dylan Sampson RB Tennessee \u2013 <\/strong>This is what NFL Draft Scout wrote about Sampson: \u201cSampson seized control of the Volunteers’ backfield in 2024 and promptly demolished the program’s single-season record books. His historic junior campaign included Tennessee records for rushing yards (1,491), rushing touchdowns (22), total touchdowns (22), and consecutive games with a rushing score (11). Against SEC competition, Sampson was even more lethal, piling up 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns in conference play.\u00a0 The PFN software has Sampson as the 133rd<\/sup> ranked player which is grossly wrong.<\/p>\n The academic standout and community service leader capped his collegiate career with SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and second-team All-America recognition.\u201d\u00a0 He stands only 5\u20198\u201d and weighs 208-pounds and ran a 4.42 40-yard dash.\u00a0 Exceptional quickness and burst through the hole.\u00a0 Good forward lean to get every yard available.\u00a0 Surprisingly good pass blocker for his size using good technique and leverage. The Patriots had him in for 30 Visit.<\/p>\n 3-77 Ozzy Trapilo OT Boston College \u2013 <\/strong>The Patriots sent Doug Marrone and Mikle Vrabel to the Boston College Pro Day.\u00a0 Marrone worked for BC Head Coach Bill O\u2019Brien last season working with the Offensive line.\u00a0 Further, Trapilo has been working with Dante Scarnecchia this off season and reports from the Pro Day indicated that Trapilo has made significant progress under Scar\u2019s tutelage. Trapilo is a large tackle at 6\u20198\u201d, 326-pounds and was a 1st<\/sup> Team All-ACC Tackle last season.\u00a0 Under Marrone and learning from 34-year-old Morgan Moses, who signed a 3-year contract in Free Agency.\u00a0 This pick just makes too much sense.<\/p>\n 4-106 \u00a0Vernon Broughton DT Texas<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The 6\u20194\u201d 305-pound DT runs an estimated 4.95 40-yard dash.\u00a0 He chose not to participate in any drills at the Combine.\u00a0 At his Pro Day, he didn\u2019t run because of a Quad injury.<\/p>\n This is what NFL Draft Buzz said about Broughton:<\/p>\n Broughton’s academic excellence matched his athletic development, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors.\u00a0 In the 2024 SEC Championship Game, Broughton totaled 6 tackles against Georgia. During the 2024 season, he played all 15 games, notching 39 tackles with 4.5 being for a loss, 4 sacks,2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.<\/p>\n 5-144\u00a0 Keandre Lambert-Smith WR Auburn \u2013 <\/strong>You can\u2019t coach speed.\u00a0 You either have it or you don\u2019t. \u00a0Smith is 6\u2019 190-pound slot receiver.\u00a0 How fast is Lambert-Smith?\u00a0 How about 4.37 40-yard dash fast.\u00a0 That was the 7th<\/sup> fastest at the Combine.\u00a0 But wait, he posted an absolutely ridiculous 3.98 (Official time) and as low as a reported 3.83 Short Shuttle at his Pro Day. \u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s put that into perspective.\u00a0 I have data for over 2800+ draft eligible college prospects and no one other than Lambert-Smith has a time under 4.0.\u00a0 A further example would be Julian Edelman who had an equally crazy 3.92. \u00a0After playing 4 seasons at Penn State, he transferred to Auburn for a Grad year and was selected as 2nd<\/sup> Team All-SEC with 50 catches for 981 yards (19.6 YPC) and 8 TDs.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Patriots had Lambert-Smith in for a 30 Visit.<\/p>\n 5-171 <\/strong>\u00a0Issac TeSlaa WR Arkansas <\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 He is my favorite player in the draft.\u00a0 I have selected him in nearly all of the Mock Drafts I have done.\u00a0 TeSlaa is an under-the-radar player with great physical tools.\u00a0 He stands 6\u20194\u201d, 214-pounds and ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and a 1.51 10-yard split which was Tied for 4th<\/sup>. These are excellent numbers for a player of his size.\u00a0 He was the #1 ranked WR tester at the Combine, with an Athletic score of 96 of a possible 100.\u00a0 His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is 9.96 out of 10.0.\u00a0 The numbers were incredible with a 39.5\u201d Vertical Jump (4T), 10\u2019 9\u201d Broad Jump (6), 6.85 3-cone Drill, 4.05 Short Shuttle (1) and 17 reps on the bench Press (3T).\u00a0 He has very large 10\u201d hands and 311\/2\u201d<\/sup> arms.\u00a0 I want my receivers to be under 4.5 and have a 3-cone drill under 7.\u00a0 TeSlaa also shined in the pass catching drills with a nice adjustment to a deep ball that was underthrown and to his inside where he had to turn around in stride to make the catch.\u00a0 He only had 28 catches for 546 yards and 3 TDs in 2024 but had an outstanding 19.5 YPC.\u00a0 In 2023 he had 32 catches for 341 yards and 2 TDs.\u00a0 Before transferring to Arkansas, TeSlaa followed his father footsteps and played 3 seasons at DII Hillsdale College where he was the Great Midwest American Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.\u00a0\u00a0 That season he caught 68 passes for 1325 yards and 13 TDs in 11 games.\u00a0 TeSlaa dropped only two passes in two years playing in the SEC.\u00a0 I want him on our team even if the Patriots have to use a higher pick to get him.\u00a0 I noticed in a video study of the other Arkansas wideout, Andrew Armstrong, that the Arkansas coaches used TeSlaa as a decoy to clear out routes for Armstrong.\u00a0 The QB ignored TeSlaa numerous times despite being wide open.\u00a0 TeSlaa was a high school QB which Josh McDaniels should like to use.\u00a0 His ceiling is incredibly high.\u00a0 Give him a year learning under Mack Hollins and I think we will really have a hell of a player.\u00a0 Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda posted on X that the Patriots were interested in TeSlaa.<\/p>\n 7-220 Jordan Hancock DB Ohio State \u2013 <\/strong>This is the one time that I am deviating slightly from the Horizontal Board.\u00a0 Hancock is ranked #220 exactly on Dane Brugler\u2019s Big Board. \u00a0Hancock anchored the Buckeye defense that finished first nationally in both scoring defense and total defense.\u00a0 His adaptability to line up at cornerback, nickel, and safety made him a chess piece that Coach Williams will love to use. \u00a0The 6\u2019, 195-pound DB ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the Combine.\u00a0 This is what NFL Draft Buzz says about Hancock:<\/p>\n Mike Vrabel is very connected with the Ohio State program having served as a coach and advisor there.\u00a0 This is the only player that I have the Patriots taking from Ohio State.<\/p>\n 7-238 \u00a0Xavier Truss OT Georgia \u2013 <\/strong>When picking this late in the draft, you are grasping straws. \u00a0Most 7th<\/sup> round selections won\u2019t make it in the league.\u00a0 Julian Edelman and Troy Brown are two exceptions.\u00a0 At this point the teams have these players rated as UDFA\u2019s and are taking players that they would like to have and not compete with other teams for their services as UDFA.\u00a0 <\/strong>The Warwick RI native is a massive 6\u20197\u201d, 309-pound Tackle who started 42 games in the SEC for the Bulldogs, 27 of those in consecutive games.\u00a0 Although his overall performance at the Combine wasn\u2019t good, he did manage to run a 5.24 which isn\u2019t bad for player his size.\u00a0 Truss practiced for the East-West Shrine game but didn\u2019t play in the game.\u00a0 This is what NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Truss:<\/p>\n Truss received 2nd<\/sup> team All-SEC honors in 2023.\u00a0 He is also The Patriots are drafting Truss as a developmental project.\u00a0 Truss attended the \u201cLocal Day\u201d at Foxboro because he is from nearby Rhode Island.<\/p>\n I think the Patriots will get a QB and Kicker out of the UDFA pool.\u00a0 Here are some names of players I don\u2019t think will get drafted and should be available as UDFA.<\/p>\n Ruben Hypolyte LB Maryland<\/p>\n Lan Larison RB UC Davis<\/p>\n Shaun Dolac LB Buffalo<\/p>\n Chazz Chambliss EDGE Georgia<\/p>\n Terrance Spence DB James Madison<\/p>\n Donavan Jackson OG\/OT Ohio State<\/strong> is player to watch.\u00a0 Nick Cattles on his Locked On Patriots Podcast floated the idea of double dipping on the Offensive Line and taking Jackson with the Patriots 2nd<\/sup> round selection #38.\u00a0 Jackson filled in for Josh Simmons when he went down with a knee injury.\u00a0 Jackson was instrumental in Ohio State\u2019s Championship run.\u00a0 He was a 3x All-Big 10 1st<\/sup> team selection and 1st<\/sup> Team All American.\u00a0 In the four playoff wins, Jackson didn\u2019t give up a sack.\u00a0 That was against three of the top Defenses in College Football.\u00a0 Can you imagine Campbell and Jackson playing side by side for the next 10 years?\u00a0 The Idea is very intriguing.\u00a0 Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly called him the Unsung Hero of the playoff run to the Championship. \u00a0\u00a0You also can\u2019t discount the Mike Vrabel connection to Ohio State.<\/p>\n Double Dip at Running Back\u00a0 <\/strong>Vrabel mentioned in his Pre-Draft Press Conference that he wants speed in the backfield and the depth of the Running Nack position is very good this year.\u00a0 They could use a pass catcher in the James White mold.\u00a0 Antonio Gibson was badly misused last year by Alex Van Pelt and could fill that role.\u00a0 Rhamondre Stevenson led the league in fumbles last season and if he can\u2019t fix that problem, he will find a spot on the bench. \u00a0Turning the ball over won\u2019t be tolerated without some type of accountability.\u00a0 Those days are over.<\/p>\n Patriots Attend Jalon Walker Private Workout<\/strong><\/p>\n The Pats sent a large contingent to the Private Workout that Jalon Walker and Nykel Williams conducted on the Georgia campus.\u00a0 The report is that they took Walker out to lunch afterwards.\u00a0 Tony Pauline from Sportkeeda reported that he has heard from multiple sources that the Patriots may shock the draft by taking Walker.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see that at #4 but could be a possibility if they trade back.\u00a0 Smokescreen?<\/p>\n Draft Broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network<\/strong><\/p>\n Draft starts at 8 and the Pats pick at #4 should be around \u00bd hour to 45 minutes after the start.\u00a0 Teams get up to 15 minutes to make their pick.<\/p>\n Several online podcasts will be live during the draft including Nick Cattles on Everything Patriots podcast.\u00a0 Fantasy Pros and Joe Pisapia will analyze every pick as soon as its made.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Draft is such a crapshoot.\u00a0 Felger and Mazz on Sports Hub 98.5 throw a football with a marker in the tip, against a white board that has Lindy\u2019s Draft Annual magazine open.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":59523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23637,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2025-patriots-draft","category-patriots-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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