The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone. It's a huge step in the evaluation process that leads up to the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While fans are relegated to the testing portion and positional drills of the combine, the real value for NFL teams is getting to know the prospects behind closed doors with formal meetings and acquiring the almighty vital medical reports. There were numerous players that New England showed significant interest in during the week-long event in Indianapolis, as they met with potential draft targets with various grades, including everyone from Day 1 targets, to potential undrafted rookie free agent types.
While March will bring the arrival of pro day workouts and the NFL free agent frenzy, the foundation of any successful organization still remains building through the draft and developing in-house talent. Roster construction via the draft continues to be a proven formula for success, which makes the 2025 NFL Draft the most important one in franchise history for New England. We have deciphered through all the rumors and innuendo that ran rampant in downtown Indianapolis, condensing it into our positional assessment below. There are several prominent prospects to be aware of on the Patriots radar at every position and head coach Mike Vrabel was at the forefront for all of it.
Let's dive into the offensive prospects:
QUARTERBACK
New England could look to add a signal-caller late in the draft should they opt to part ways with backup Joe Milton in what has been deemed a 'down year' for quarterback prospects. The smoke was still smothering in the downtown swirlwinds of Indianapolis that Milton could be had at the right price. A such deal would likely not transpire until draft weekend but it's worth noting, especially considering the early track record thus far of executive vice president Eliot Wolf. One quarterback who has drastically boosted his draft stock after his Senior Bowl and combine performances would be Louisville gunslinger Tyler Shough, who could go as high as Day 2. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, fresh off a national championship, had himself an atrocious workout in Indy and could fall to Day 3.
Big Winner: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, 6-2, 223 - While it wasn't a breathtaking performance by any means, Dart continues to check of the boxes for NFL scouts, as he reportedly made a positive impression amongst his NFL team visits in Indy. Despite lacking prototype height, Dart possesses a sturdy frame, capable of absorbing hits, along with the alluring ability to extend plays and remain accurate while throwing on the move. After a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and combine, Dart has been slotted as QB2 after Cam Ward by several teams around the league.
Patriots Target: Kurtis Rourke, Indiana, 6-4, 220 - A perfect reclamation project worth a late-round gamble, Rourke enjoyed a career year, which was dampened by an ACL injury that was mismanaged by the Hoosiers staff. Rourke strained his ACL last offseason before tearing it fully in training camp. He would wind up playing the entire year through the injury without receiving neccessary treatment. While no one is going to question the grit and toughness of Rourke, it has placed his football future in question. Anyone who watched him operate the up-tempo Indiana offense, saw a smart signal-caller, capable of making all the throws. He would benefit from a rookie redshirt season.
RUNNING BACK
The Patriots need to start clicking on all cylinders and must find some new bodies to inject into the backfield. With such a deep running back class, the team may not utilize a draft selection on the position and instead, wait until after the draft to bring in several undrafted free agents. That being said, New England still met with a handful of running back prospects, including the speedy and explosive RJ Harvey from UCF and gritty Rutgers runner Kyle Monangai who ran a disappointing forty-yard dash time of 4.60. We previously mentioned the home run ability that Harvey possesses, as he's a threat to take it the distance any time he touches the ball. Adding such a presence could really elevate the New England offense and alleviate some of the weight off Drake Maye's shoulders.
Big Winner: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6-0, 221 - A consistent, durable back with the size to pound the rock between the tackles, Hampton is also capable of being an effective weapon out of the backfield with adequate blocking skills. In fact, there's little that Hampton can't do. Blessed with ideal size and speed, he timed 4.46 in the forty-yard dash, hitting a top speed of 23mph, along with a 38" vertical jump and 10-10 broad jump. The former backfield mate of Maye met with the Patriots in Indy and brings All-Pro caliber potential. With his type of production, consistency, athleticism and mesurables, Hampton has now played himself into the first round equation and could possibly even be the first runner off the board.
Patriots Target: Woody Marks, USC, 5-10, 207 - This is one player worth noting, as Marks is going to be dinged for underwhelming at the combine. However, you must through the testing out the window, when it comes to Marks, who is the most dynamic back to hail from USC since Reggie Bush. Despite a subpar forty-yard dash time of 4.54, the Mississippi State transfer is one of the more instinctual runners and arguably the most natural pass-catcher amongst any backs in the draft. He still managed respectable marks of 35" in the vertical jump and 9-11 in the broad jump. With his draft stock on the slide, it would be wise for New England to monitor his status on Day 3, as Marks could become a late round steal.
WIDE RECEIVER
At least one, possibly two wide receivers should be expected to chosen by New England during draft weekend. The Patriots made sure to do their due diligence on wideouts out in Indy, meeting with several prominent targets who add value in various ways. A slot speedster out of Iowa, Jaylin Noel is another player with elite speed, as he turned in a 4.39 forty-yard dash, along with a 41.5" vertical jump. New England would likely have to invest an early Day 2 selection on such a player. Another slot target they met with was Xavier Restrepo, who did not run the forty, as questions about his timed speed remain, in addition to UNLV receiver/returner Ricky White, plus Pat Bryant of Illinois and Kyle Williams of Washington State. Most notable, was their meeting with Arizona playmaker Tetairoa McMillan, whom remains in play at No.4 overall.
Big Winner: Matthew Golden, Texas, 5-11, 191 - Few emerged from Indianapolis with more gained than Golden, who proved to be a clutch performer for the Longhorns this past season. While much hype was made about teammate Isaiah Bond challenging John Ross for the modern-day forty record (4.22), it was Golden who came close to the mark with a 4.29 forty, which is highly impressive in his own right. In fact, so much so that his agent pulled him after the first forty run and shut him down for the day, as Golden did not do any more testing, nor drills. That's due to his body of work this past season, which showed a refined route runner, able to compete vertically and is tough after the catch. While New England did formally meet with Golden, he has likely solidified himself as a first round pick at this point.
Patriots Target: Tre Harris, Ole Miss, 6-2, 205 - Maybe the best kept secret in this year's draft, Harris is a polished route runner who brings dependable hands and has mastered working the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. While his timed speed is underwhelming (4.54 forty-yard dash), his in-game long speed (22mph) shows up on film. These traits have not been lost on the Patriots who scheduled a formal meeting with Harris. He did add a 38.5" vertical jump and 10-5 broad jump, showcasing the type of explosion he owns. The lack of hype hails from the fact that Harris isn't quite viewed as a WR1 type at the next level. However, he does project as a plug-in WR2 who brings toughness to the position and can provide stability.
TIGHT ENDS
The tight end position is sure to look different next season behind Hunter Henry who returns under contract and developed into a reliable safety valve underneath in the passing attack for Maye. The Patriots also met with another former Tar Heels teammate in Bryson Nesbit at the combine. A blend of size and speed, Nesbit has proved to be a reliable presence over the middle and is expected to be a mid-round selection. Other formal visits included Gunnar Helm of Texas, who suffered a nasty ankle sprain on his first forty attempt but completed the rest of his workouts and Pittsburgh brawler Gavin Bartholomew, one of the more underrated blockers in this year's draft. As New England continues to sniff around the tight ends, one player to keep an eye on is Terrence Ferguson of Oregon who tested well, has dependable hands and can also block.
Big Winner: Mason Taylor, LSU, 6-5, 201 - It was a great week for Taylor who accomplished a rare feat by elevating his draft stock, despite not participating in any of the testing drills. That is due to the fact that Taylor wowed during positional drills, showing off his prototype frame, top-notch athleticism and fancy footwork. The nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jason Taylor, the Tigers well-rounded product did not deviate once from the yard-line marker, while running the gauntlet drill at high speed and showing very dependable hands. Taylor, who also met with the Patriots had a mid-to-late round grade entering the combine but he now departs Indy with expectations to be taken early on Day 2.
Patriots Target: Robbie Ouzts, Alabama, 6-3, 274 - The closest prospect who you will fin in this year's draft capable of being employed as a traditional fullback, don't read too much into Ouzts' combine performance, as he is more of novelty piece. Known primarily for his blocking prowess, Ouzts cam in at 4.91 in the forty-yard dash, with 34" vertical jump and 9-11 broad jump. A feisty competitor, he was one of the few players who completed all the testing drills in Indy, running a 4.45 short shuttle, 7.34 three-cone and added 26 bench press reps of 225 pounds. Ouzts had a formal meeting with the Patriots and would fit as a Swiss-Army-Knife.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Adding to the offensive tackle position is a key focus for New England this offseason, as evident by their formal meetings at the combine. It's a long list, which includes the likes of Josh Simmons of Ohio State, widely viewed as the first round lock prior to tearing his patellar tendon. His medical examination will likely determine his draft fate, as there's an outside chance that Simmons is still on the board when the Patriots come back around in the second round at No.38. The team also made sure to check-in with small school standout Charles Grant of William & Mary. A tenacious blocker who plays with a huge chip on his shoulder, the FCS product projects as a Day 2 selection. Should New England add a tackle during the free agency portion of the league calendar, it should not prevent them from continuing to add to the position via the draft.
Big Winner: Armand Membou, Missouri, 6-4, 332 - There was a divide amongst the scouting community coming into the combine as to whether Membou was viewed as a tackle or guard. After a tantalizing performance in Indy, he seemed to have hushed all the critics who questioned his ability to thrive on the outside. The agile Membou measured in at 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds, while clocking an eye-popping 4.91 40 yard dash. He would add 31 bench press reps and 34" vertical jump, showcasing his strength and burst. While New England has shown strong interest, the consensus feeling is that Membou has played himself into the top-end of the first round.
Patriots Target: Will Campbell, LSU, 6-6, 319 - Much discussion in Indy revolved around the arm length (or lack there of) surrounding Will Campbell of LSU. Facts matter when it comes to evaluation and Campbell measured in with just 32-inch arms, the shortest amongst any offensive tackle who has measured in at the combine since 2011. While this doesn't bode well for his draft stock, it shouldn't discredit his potential in the pros. Campbell has largely succeeded due to his phenomenal footwork and body balance. New England was sure to meet formally with the three-year starter but would be viewed as a bit risky to roll the dice on in round one, if the Patriots remain at No.4.
Part II with the defense is coming tomorrow.