The New England Patriots named Mike Vrabel as their new head coach, signaling the start of a new chapter in Foxborough.
With Vrabel at the helm, the Patriots are looking to rebuild their roster and reestablish their identity after a disappointing few seasons. The upcoming 2025 NFL draft will be a critical component of this process, giving Vrabel and the revamped front office a chance to inject fresh talent into a team in desperate need of reinforcements.
In this seven-round mock draft, we'll explore how the Patriots can maximize their picks and align their selections with the philosophy and vision Vrabel brings to the organization. Let's dive in and see how the Patriots can start their rebuild.
Round 1, Pick No. 4: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
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The Patriots had a terrible pass rush this season, and Abdul Carter is likely a game-changing edge rusher the Patriots have been missing since they moved on from Matthew Judon. Carter fits the mold that Vrabel will want as they try and build through the trenches and add some talent all across the roster.
Round 2, Pick No. 38: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
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Tre Harris is one of my favorite receivers in the class. His sure hands and separation ability are reminiscent of an elite receiver. He may slide into round one when it is all said and done, but he is an elite playmaker this team needs.
Round 3, Pick No. 69: Emery Jones Jr., T, LSU
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Emery Jones Jr. is a powerful right tackle who has good technique in pass protection. He should be a plug-and-play right tackle on Day 1 and improve the offensive line right away.
The Patriots will likely sign someone like Cam Robinson or Dan Moore to play left tackle for the next few years, but they can't try and fix all of their problems at once. They need to incrementally improve the depth all along the roster.
Caedan Wallace may still be good at left tackle if they wish to try him there again, but they cannot sit around and wait for top-100 picks to develop every year. That is a recipe for disaster.
Round 3, Pick No. 77: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
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An Iowa tight end -- need I say more? Lachey comes from "tight end university" in Iowa and is a good inline blocker with solid hands and excellent spacing awareness. His athletic ability will be tested at the NFL Scouting Combine which could thrust him higher, but he is likely a third-round pick and someone to develop behind Hunter Henry.
Round 4, Pick No. 105: JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
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Pegues is a big-bodied space eater with high-level agility. He should immediately compete and fit next to Christian Barmore along the defensive line. Defensive tackle is a sneaky need with Barmore's health concerns and Davon Godchaux's lack of third-down prowess. So Pegues is a good pick to try and develop.
Remember, these picks are not all supposed to be All-Pro, but you need depth and some key starters that you draft and develop. You cannot rely on free agency every three years to find your starters.
Round 5, Pick No. 142: Woody Marks, RB, USC
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Woody Marks has good speed and burst to complement the current running back room. He would be a plus pass protector and pass catcher for the Patriots. Although Antonio Gibson is a good receiving back, the team needs depth, especially with Rhamondre Stevenson's fumbling issues. Mike Vrabel won't put up with that for long, so they will need to have contingency plans in place.
Round 7, Pick No. 215: Cooper Mays, C, Tennessee
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The Patriots saw what life was like without David Andrews, and they have yet to see Jake Andrews even touch the field in the two years since drafting him. Cole Strange looked promising at center, but the team may opt to use him at his natural position if they cannot find good guard play.
Cooper Mays would be insurance at center and someone to compete with Jake Andrews and Ben Brown for the backup center spot.
Round 7, Pick No. 218: Jordan Hancock, S, Ohio State
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Vrabel is likely taking an Ohio State guy in this draft at some point. Jordan Hancock has special teams upside and could give the Patriots flexibility at either safety spot, which saw Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers both miss time.
Round 7, Pick No. 239: Donovan Smith, QB, Houston
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With Drake Maye cemented as the franchise quarterback and Joe Milton as the potential backup, Jacoby Brissett will likely go elsewhere. So the Patriots should draft a quarterback, like Donovan Smith, who has a similar body composition to Maye and Milton as a larger passer with a cannon for an arm.
Drafting and developing a good pipeline of quarterbacks gives the team some flexibility in emergency situations to play or trade from their surplus.