This week’s mailbag explores your mock drafts.
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially less than three weeks away. So, instead of the usual questions submitted and answered in our #PostPulpit mailbag, we will be going through a batch of your own mock drafts — where we hopefully will comment on a vast majority of prospects, trades, and all sorts of scenarios.
Also note that the majority of mocks were submitted before the Joe Milton trade, which saw New England swap pick 217 for No. 171. With that, let’s get into some New England Patriots mocks.
#4 Travis Hunter CB/WR
#38 Aireontae Ersery OT
#69 Jayden Higgins WR
#77 Bradyn Swinson EDGE
#106 Anjani Cornelius OT
#144 Ollie Gordon RB
#217 Que Robinson EDGE
#220 Tonka Hemingway DT
#238 Garvin Bartholomew TE – jrroos
You got a fan in this one, jrroos. Hunter (or Carter) is the dream scenario atop the draft. One of the top two elite prospects in this draft who I believe could become a dominant wide receiver with his athleticism and ball skills — giving Drake Maye a great partner to grow with.
On Day Two, Ersery is a big bodied left tackle who can get out in space when needed. He’d probably be the top option at the position at this point. I’m also a big fan in Bradyn Swinson off the edge and think he’s flying under the radar in a strong edge class. With Hunter in the picture, I might go elsewhere than Higgins at that point although I do like the player.
Rounding out Day Three, I like the positions address. More depth on the lines and some development players at running back and tight end. Ollie Gordon had a down 2024 season and Combine but I can’t quite quit his 2023 season. Will be interesting to see if he can get back to that at the next level.
Round 1: Pick #4: Travis Hunter: WR/CB: Colorado
Round 2: Pick #38: Aireontae Ersery: OT: Minnesota
Round 3: Pick #69: T.J. Sanders: DT: South Carolina
Round 3: Pick #83: Kyle Williams: WR: Washington State
Round 4: Pick # 125: Jackson Slater: OG: Sacramento State
Round 5: Pick #144: Dylan Sampson: RB: Tennessee
Round 7: Pick #217: Zach Frazier: CB: UTSA
Round 7: Pick #220: Jalin Conyers: TE: Texas Tech
Round 7: Pick #238: Ben Sauls: K: Pittsburgh – mathblaster97
Similar start as the last one so we’ll jump into round three.
Sanders is similar to Milton Williams as an undersized three-tech who can get after the quarterback. He could join the rotation and perhaps be what Williams was in the Eagles defensive line rotation the past few seasons. Kyle Williams has also seen his stock skyrocket in recent weeks putting him perhaps into day two territory. He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and creates easy separation. The Patriots held Williams on a visit. I’m a fan.
To Day Three, Slater had an impressive Senior Bowl as an athletic, versatile interior lineman. I like Dylan Sampson as the Patriots look for a speed back, but believe he’s likely off the board inside the top-100. Kicker is also an underrated need entering the draft and the lefty Sauls is one of the few with cold weather experience — if that is a trait they are still prioritizing.
Assuming no Hunter, no trade
1(4), Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
2(38), Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
3(69), Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
3(77), Charles Grant, OT, William and Mary
4(105), David Walker, LB/ED, Central Arkansas
5(144), Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
7(217), Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers
7(220), Cam Jackson, DT, Florida
7(238), Xavier Truss, OL, Georgia – wrw921
Not a huge fan of Banks at this spot. If he falls back into a trade up range different story. Going tackle here, though, I’d rather go Campbell or Membou. I like Ayomanor’s game but there is some overlap with Ja’Lynn Polk which may not make using a second round pick on the player worthwhile.
Good set of athletes in round three. Arroyo is an explosive tight end who can be a seam threat for Drake Maye while Grant is an intriguing developmental tackle out of a small school. Grant is an absolute freak athlete who didn’t even start playing football until his junior year of high school as he was a wrestler.
As for day three, another productive small school player in David Walker, whose a powerful more compact player who dominated at Central Arkansas. Blue fits the mold of the speed running back Robert Kraft discussed at the owners meetings. He had some fumbling issues last year but is a player McDaniels could use well.
4 – Will Campbell, LSU, OT
38 – Jack Sawyer, Ohio St, Edge
69 – Jack Bech, TCU, WR
77 – Ozzy Trapilo, BC, OT
106 – Devin Neal, Kansas, RB
144 – Mitchell Evans, ND, TE
217 – Connor Colby, Iowa,OG
220 – Cody Lindenberg, Minn, LB
238 – Rylie Mills, ND, DL – VinnieBoombatz71
Talk about a draft full of Mike Vrabel type of players with Campbell, Sawyer, Bech and Trapilo. I am not a fan of Sawyer that high as his game is all about power with a below average athletic profile. Bech is a physical slot receiver who can move around the formation and move the chains. But, he may be repetitive to what New England already has in their room.
Trapilo feels almost bound to be a Patriot as Vrabel begins to build the pipeline from Boston College to Foxboro. Offensive line coach Doug Marrone was in Chestnut Hill last season and Trapilo could have the versatility to play both tackle spots.
On day three, Devin Neal has good feet out of the backfield and can play all three downs due to his pass catching ability. I would be wary of his collegiate workload as he amassed over 800 touches. Now two years removed from an ACL tear, Evans could be a good buy-low candidate at tight end who also brings an upgrade as a run blocker over anyone on the current roster.
Post-Joe-Milton-Trade Mock Draft for Pats.
Draft Thesis: Pats need blue-chip plus-starters who fit their scheme. LT, dominance depth at DT, shifty WR.
Mock Draft:
1-4 (trade to New Orleans for 1-9, 2-40) no pick.
1-9 Shemar Stewart, Edge
1-24 (From Minn. for 2-38, 3-77 and 7-217). Josh Simmons, LT
2-40 Aireontae Ersery, OT
3-69 Jaylin Noel, WR
4-106 CJ West, DT
5-144 Andres Borregales, K
5-?? (from Dallas) Dont’e Thornton, WR
7-238 Jaylin Lane, WR – WannaBePatsGM
Some new names on here after a trade down from No. 4 with the Saints, who are a logical partner with them potentially in the QB market. I’d probably prefer other defenders at this point, but it’s impossible to ignore Stewart’s elite athletic profile. While the production did not match in college, you’d hope Vrabel and Terrell Williams would unlock him moving forward.
The move back up for a tackle is another logical one and Simmons, who put out some of the best pure left tackle tape for Ohio State before suffering a season-ending injury. If that’s the move, not sure you need to double dip at the position with Ersey unless the medicals for Simmons are concerning.
I’m a fan of all three receivers here, but doubt they walk away with that many in the draft as the depth chart is already crowded. Borregales could also be the best kicker in the draft but I wouldn’t use anything better than a seventh rounder at the position.
Trade: #4 to New Orleans for #9, 71, 93, 2026 2nd
Trade: #38 + 71 + 2026 4th to Minnesota for #24
9- Jalon Walker LB/Edge
24- Josh Simmons OT
69- Harold Fannin Jr. TE
77- Savion Williams WR
93- Anthony Belton OT
106- Dylan Sampson RB
144- JJ Peagues DT
217- Mello Dotson CB
220- Nick Nash WR
238- Cooper Mays C – Sdpatsfan84
A similar set up as the previous draft with a trade down and then up to target defense and Josh Simmons. If they move down, Walker is one of the more preferred defensive options. He can play in the middle of the field and move down on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher — in somewhat of a Dont’a Hightower role.
The Fannin — Williams duo is very boom or bust while Belton would be a solid mid-round o-line addition would can provide some interior versatility. J.J. Pegues is fun. Give that man some fullback snaps.
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.