It's finally here. We'll know the bulk of the Patriots' 2025 roster in three days, and I can't wait. Real football can begin. Here are things I'm hearing, things I think and some dream scenarios in my mind:
• With the fourth overall pick, the Patriots' preference is to trade down but the chances of that appear remote. Possibly if the Giants pass on Abdul Carter. I don't think anyone is trading up for Shadeur Sanders - who I think will go 9 to the Saints - or Ashton Jeanty. But it only takes one team to fall in love and think an exceptional prospect like Jeanty is the final piece of the puzzle. It's a shame the Patriots are not ready up front yet for a Jeanty because I do think he's special.
• The Patriots' goal is to come out of this draft on their way to be just that: ready along the offensive line with a foundation for many years. If there is no trade down, expect the Patriots to pick Will Campbell to be a big foundation piece, and as I've previously laid out, I do not have an issue with that. Campbell may not be the left tackle Patriots fans deserve, but he's the left tackle they need to have a much better chance of being a solid offense this season. And that would be a huge step from where they've been.
• I would not be surprised in the least if the Patriots come out of the first two days — if not their first two picks — with two offensive linemen to solidify the unit. You could argue the two biggest needs on this team right now are left tackle and left guard, even though they have competitive options at the latter. I picked tackle Aireontae Ersery in my Patriots mock draft that I'm sticking with (I did a first-round mock last night but the site gliched and lost it, but I'll tell you my dream pick in a minute). But Nick Cattles had a better idea in our latest podcast: Ohio State guard/tackle Donovan Jackson. Would be great to have a player who can play both, and the Buckeyes won a national championship with Jackson moving from guard to left tackle in place of the injured Josh Simmons. But I wouldn't turn down another tackle like Ersery would could ultimately play LT if Campbell winds up being a guard.
• Speaking of my lost mock, I took Campbell at 4 and then traded up to the Vikings' spot at 24 to select ... Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. I doubt he lasts that long, but the words I hear the most from execs is smooth, polished, and ready to go. Sign me up. Another upgrade for Drake Maye. It cost me the Patriots' second-round pick and their second third-round pick. Could still get a guard/tackle in the third.
• Other players I would consider trading up for if they happen to be available around the Vikings' pick: OL Grey Zabel, DT Kenneth Grant, OL Donovan Jackson, OT Aireontae Ersery.
• Still think the Patriots are much more likely to stick and pick the first three rounds because they're trying to build this thing up.
• I would not be surprised if the Patriots passed on Carter if he is there at 4. The more I've to execs in the last week, the more his character has come up. There are legitimate character concerns that I was telling you about since the Senior Bowl. One exec I trust: "Talent wise, oh, freaking, you jump on it. But then, do you have the support staff in place to handle all the other BS? It's just being a dick and being a good teammate. He relies so much on his talent, which he freaking can. But are you willing to put up with that? I don't necessarily know if I would if I were them. I mean, I could see him and (Vrabel) getting in a freaking fist fight. Wow. I mean, he's just, ... it's a lot."
• Lawrence Taylor was more than a handful away from the facility, But LT was widely viewed as a phenomenal teammate during games and practices. His intensity, game-changing ability, and sheer dominance raised the level of play for everyone around him. He was known for being a fierce competitor who never wanted to come off the field and always wanted to win. You don't hear that about Carter. Really, it was gameday only.
• The big cajones move for Vrabel, in my mind, would be to take to take Jeanty or Tyler Warren at 4, and have a pre-draft deal worked out to trade up for a tackle later in the draft. But, man, all the possible LTs are scary as hell, you might get boxed out AGAIN, and that's why just picking Campbell is understandable. That can NOT happen again in this draft.
•You can say take BPA but I'm not sure the Patriots think those guys are there. I love Jeanty and Warren, but this isn't like last year when Malik Nabers went 6, Brock Bowers went 13. Or the year before, with Devon Witherspoon (5), Paris Johnson (6), Bijan Robinson (8) and Jalen Carter (9) were all elite. Some teams had those guys on the top of their boards in those years and QBs pushed them down. That is just not the case this year.
• Not buying the Armand Membou hype - at anything other than RT. He has big bust factor if you are banking on him doing that. Not many teams think he can handle that.
• My wish list out of this draft: 2 OTs, a G/C, WR, TE, DT, Edge, pass back, LB, developmental QB (would love Riley Leonard) and they still need a freaking kicker.
