In recent days the top of the NFL Draft has begun to crystalize. Miami quarterback Cam Ward looks like a near lock to go to the Titans first overall, with Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter being linked to the Browns and Giants at picks two and three. That brings up some new possibilities for the Patriots, who get creative in our debut seven-round mock draft.
First Round— TRADE—Patriots acquire picks 8, 57 & 74 from Carolina for pick 4.
With Carter and Hunter off the board, the Patriots could still get a great player at fourth overall, but this trade allows them to pick up two extra day two picks. Too good to pass up.
Round 1, Pick 8- Tyler Warren, Penn State, TE
Warren is a 6-foot-6, 261-pound elite tight end prospect who can line up along the offensive line or split out wide. He had 104 catches for 1,230 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2024 while helping Penn State reach the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Warren has the potential to be a top-five tight end in the NFL within his first few years. He is a solid, but not great, blocker so that will need some development. Josh McDaniels has made extensive use of tight ends in his offense; Warren will initially pair with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper before becoming the lead dog in future seasons. He will also be a player that opposing teams must gameplan for, which is something the Patriots did not have for several years before signing Stefon Diggs.
First Round—TRADE AGAIN—Patriots acquire pick 19 from Tampa Bay for picks 38, 69 & 144
Warren is a great pick at nine, but it does not fill the Patriots’ need for an offensive tackle. This trade presented an opportunity to get one and add a player with a fifth-year option on their first-round contract.
Round 1, Pick 19- Josh Simmons, Ohio State, OT
Simmons’ season was ended early by an ACL injury in October, but he worked out at the NFL Combine and should be healed fully in time for training camp. Had it not been for the injury, Simmons would have completed the best season of his career with a National Championship and likely would have been a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-5, 317 pounds, Simmons moves well in space and excelled as a pass blocker while also being a solid run blocker. Simmons has good bend and flexibility, which will be important against quick edge rushers while protecting Drake Maye’s blind side. Having Simmons would allow the Patriots to solidify left tackle, a position that has been a weakness since the COVID pandemic started (it’s been that long).
Round 2, Pick 57- Carson Schwesinger, UCLA, LB
The Patriots have tried to revamp their linebacker group this offseason and Schwesinger would continue that trend. The First Team All-American linebacker is 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, which would make him slightly bigger than free agent signing Robert Spillane (6-foot-1, 229). His aggressive style jumps out on film, but he balances that by generally not over-pursuing.
He needs some work in pass coverage, but would have time to develop in that area behind Spillane and Jahlani Tavai on the depth chart in year one.
Round 3, Pick 74- Tre Harris, Ole Miss, WR
This is partly a selfish pick as Harris and Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson are my two favorite post-round one skill players in this draft. So, I’d love to see Harris make his way to New England. Harris began his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech before transferring to Ole Miss in 2023. He led Ole Miss in receiving yards in 2023 and 2024 and, despite missing five games in 2024, still amassed 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns last season. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Harris has the size to be an “X” receiver in the NFL. He runs well and can beat defenders with his size and physicality. He needs some polish on his routes, but they are better than some analysts have given him credit for. If not for injuries in back-to-back seasons Harris would be drafted much higher.
Round 3, Pick 77- Andrew Mukuba, Texas, Safety
The Patriots have both Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers at safety, but have not had a true, deep field free safety since Devin McCourty retired. Mukuba would fill that role. He had five interceptions and six passes defended last season while spending over 500 snaps in the “deep” part of the field, per Pro Football Focus. He played at Clemson before transferring to Texas and becoming an integral part of the seventh ranked pass defense in the country. He is a smart player and terrific athlete who could push for a large role in Mike Vrabel’s defense.
Round 4, Pick 106- Deone Walker, Kentucky, DT
The Patriots gave Milton Williams the largest contract in team history to play defensive tackle and have potential star Christian Barmore returning from injury in 2025, but they could still use some depth at the position. Specifically, they could use a bigger bodied tackle who is better against the run. Walker fits that bill. He is 6-foot-6, 345 pounds, which is good size, but he does lack some pass rush skills and needs to add more muscle on his lower half to increase his ability to shed blocks from NFL linemen. He would be a rotational defender for the Patriots, but they could use a player with his measurables on the depth chart.
Round 5, Pick 171- Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech, WR
The second receiver of the draft for the Patriots is a fast, versatile receiver who could develop at “Z”, slot, or both. His 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was tied for the third fastest among receivers tested. Lane had 38 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 while also returning 24 punts at a 10-yard average per return. He needs development, but would have a chance to contribute on special teams and as part of a revamped Patriots receiver group.
Round 7, Pick 220- Jo’Quavious Marks, USC, RB
The Patriots have Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on the roster, but they are lacking a speed back who can be a significant contributor in the passing game. Marks had 47 catches for 321 yards last season in addition to 1,133 rushing yards. He has good vision in space, but it is his speed that jumps out on film. Marks was a high school track star who looks like he plays faster than his 4.54 40-yard dash time at the combine. He needs to improve making defenders miss in close areas and has more mileage on him than most backs after playing at Mississippi State before transferring to USC.
Round 7, Pick 238- Joshua Gray, Oregon State, G
I’m always a proponent of drafting at least one developmental offensive lineman late, and Gray has some positional versatility that would make him a worthy pick. He played left tackle in 2022 and 2023 before switching to left guard in 2024. He would be a guard in the NFL. Gray’s pass protection needs some work, but he does pretty well run blocking (74.6 PFF run block grade), making him an option to compete for a backup role. The Patriots have a lot of uncertainty on the left side of their offensive line, making it worthwhile to add a player who has started at both left tackle and guard.