This week’s mailbag explores your mock drafts.
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially less than one week away (finally). So, instead of the usual questions submitted and answered in our #PostPulpit mailbag, we will be going through another batch of your own mock drafts — where we will comment on a vast majority of prospects, trades, and all sorts of scenarios.
With that, let’s get into some New England Patriots mocks.
— Cheky01 (@Cheky011) April 16, 2025
Well done, Cheky. Carter seems more likely to slide to No. 4 at this point than Travis Hunter, and it would still be best case scenario for the Patriots. He’s a dynamic player with tons of potential and if there were concerns with the off-field reports, Mike Vrabel seemed to quiet those during his pre-draft press conference.
From there, Conerly falling to No. 38 would be best case scenario to give New England a left tackle with plenty of upside. Harris brings needed size at wide receiver and Turner is a high-motor, athletic three technique. Even though they signed Milton Williams for that role, Turner could be too good to pass up at 77.
On Day 3, Sampson makes sense for the speed back they are looking for but likely would be more in play at No. 69 or 77. McLaughlin brings a potential long-term center option as he currently recovers from a torn Achilles and Evans is an intriguing tight end option who is competitive in the run game. Borregales is the top kicker in the draft — maybe leading to him being off the board earlier — and Rourke’s skillset makes sense as a depth QB if they target one in the last rounds.
No Hunter, no trade and acknowledging a reach or two for what I consider positions of need.
1 (4), Will Campbell, OT, LSU
2 (38), JT Tuimoloau, DE/ED, Ohio State
3 (69), Ozzy Trapilo, OT, BC
3 (77), Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
4 (106, David Walker, LB/ED, Central Arkansas
5 (144), Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
5 (171), Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
7 (220), Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
7 (238), Xavier Truss. OL, Georgia – wrw921
With Carter and Hunter off the board, it feels like New England will be left to decide between an offensive tackle or versatile defender Jalon Walker. Despite the length concerns, Campbell brings plenty of experience at left tackle in the SEC while his character projects perfectly to what Vrabel is looking to add to the locker room.
On Day 2, there would probably be other more athletic edge defenders I prefer over Tuimoloau but I like the choice to address the position there. The Ohio State connection is also worth noting in addition to the BC ties with Trapilo. I love the Jacob Parrish pick as a feisty nickel corner who is not afraid to get involved in the run game.
Moving to the final five selections, Walker is another powerful rusher in a compact body type. I like the potential of Jaydon Blue in the passing game while he also brings the speed element and TeSlaa is a strong late-round wide receiver due to his athletic profile as a big slot.
Round 1: Pick 4 – Will Campbell (OT)
Round 2: Pick 38 – Jayden Higgins (WR)
Round 3: Pick 69 – Treyveon Henderson (RB)
Round 3: Pick 77 – Ozzy Trapilo (OT)
Round 4: Pick 106 – Sai’vion Jones (Edge)
Round 5: Pick 144 – Cobee Bryant (CB)
Round 5: Pick 171 – Tyler Loop (K)
Round 7: Pick 220 – Jackson Slater (G/C)
Round 7: Pick 238 – Brady Cook (QB) – DTW10
Beyond Campbell and Trapilo as the tackle additions in rounds one and three, I like the playmakers added between them. Higgins brings an intriguing blend of size and speed to the wide receiver room while the explosive Henderson is my RB3 in this draft (behind Jeanty and Hampton).
Jones is a big edge defender at 280 pounds which could interest outside linebacker coach Mike Smith, who has a history working with larger rushers. Bryant is another feisty corner which helps in the run game but cost him in coverage as he piled up 18 penalties over his career. Don’t love picking a kicker in the fifth-round and Brady Cook was a disaster at Missouri last season, but Slater is a strong late-round option to bolster the interior depth.
Patriots trade #4 to New Orleans for #9, #71 and Chris Olave
#9- Jalon Walker, LB/Edge Georgia
#38- Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota
#69- Wyatt Millum OT/OG WVU
#71- Harold Fannin Jr. TE Bowling Green
#77- Josiah Stewart Edge Michigan
#106- Dylan Sampson RB Tennessee
#144- Malachi Moore S Alabama
#171- Jake Majors C Texas
#220- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DT Georgia
#238- Andres Borregales K Miami – Sdpatsfan84
We got a trade! I’d say fair value for No. 4 overall if the Saints do have interest in moving up, but taking on Olave is a risk with his concussion history (even though I do love the player).
If New England does move down, Walker would definitely be a player to watch as he could be in consideration at No. 4 anyway. Without a tackle in the first-round, addressing the position with their second selection (perhaps after a move up) will likely be the case. That gets done here with Ersery falling to No. 38 — and then adding more depth inside with Milum.
I’m not the biggest fan of Fannin but have been a supporter of Josiah Stewart throughout the pre-draft process. He is an explosive pass rusher who brings some big-time speed-to-power despite being 6’1”. I also like Moore, who can make an immediate impact on special teams while mixing in at safety early in his career, and New England met with Majors as a potential down-the-line center option.
With the assumption both Carter and Hunter are off the board at #4, I’m going to start with two trades. First, I’m going to trade back from #4 to #9 in exchange for the Saints #40 and #93. I’m also trading up from #38 to #24 using picks #93 and #144. So that leaves us with the following:
Round 1: #9 – Tyler Warren (TE)
Round 1: #24 – Josh Simmons (LT)
Round 2: #40 – Jayden Higgins (WR)
Round 3: #69 – Ozzy Trapilo (T)
Round 3: #77 – Andrew Mukuba (S)
Round 4: #106 – Devin Neal (RB)
Round 5: # 171 – Ben Sauls (K)
Round 7: # 220 – Andrew Armstrong (WR)
Round 7: #238 – Zeek Biggers (DT) – Sportzballer
Another trade down before a trade up. A similar move down to nine, but this time we grab Tyler Warren, who was featured in several submissions this week. I like the player, but if we’re taking a pass catcher I’d prefer Michigan’s Colston Loveland at tight end or would rather take my chance on one of the receivers at this point in the draft.
From there, the move up for a tackle is certainly on the table if the first pick is not Campell or Armand Membou. Simmons appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn patellar tendon and had great film prior to his injury at left tackle last year. With the Ohio State connection, he’s a name to watch in the 20s.
We’ve hit on Higgins and Trapilo, but Mukuba is a free safety who plays with plenty of energy. His work in coverage was also impressive as he posted 18 pass breakups and zero penalties. Neal is a good back who can make people miss but not necessarily a speed back and don’t love the kicker that early again (although like Sauls as a potential option).
OT. Will Campbell
TE. Colston Loveland
WR. Elic Ayomanor
RB. Devin Neal
OT. Anthony Belton
DE. Elijah Roberts
S. Upton Stout
LB. Jay Higgins
CB. Alijah Huzzie. – WelshPatriot
Speaking of Colston Loveland, him sliding to No. 38 feels far fetched but the card would quickly be turned in if he does. He’s a smooth mover and incredible route-runner at the tight end position who’s in-line blocking ability is underrated. I’m a big fan of his and would again push for him to be the first tight end off the board.
Ayomanor is a physical wide receiver at 6’1” while Belton is an intriguing mid-round tackle option who impressed at the Senior Bowl — where he also showed some guard versatility. Stout is a shorter nickel corner with plenty of competitiveness and play speed to his game. Huzzie plays a similar role and is recovery from a torn ACL suffered at the Shrine Bowl.
That’s all for this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. If you have questions you’d liked to be answered next week, submit them online in our weekly submission post or on Twitter using #PostPulpit. Make sure to be following @iambrianhines and @PatsPulpit as well.