The first wave of NFL free agency has passed, and the New England Patriots didn’t do much as far as surrounding Drake Maye with talent.
Other than signing wide receiver Mack Hollins, veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs and offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer, the Patriots haven’t made any real splash on offense which likely means they will look to address that side of the ball in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With left tackle and wide receiver being their top positional needs, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear that the team will select the best available player at No. 4. Could that be Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy runner up Ashton Jeanty?
One NFL Mock draft has Jeanty headlining a draft of young offensive talent.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots.com writer has Ashton Jeanty to the Patriots
In his first NFL Mock Draft, Patriots.com writer Mike Dussault has the Patriots selecting the explosive running back who could take a lot of pressure off Maye in Year 2. Most of the focus have been on players like left tackle Will Campbell, edge rusher Abdul Carter and two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 4, but depending on how the top 3 picks go, both Carter and Hunter could be gone.
With questions marks around Campbell, could Jeanty be a sure bet for the Patriots even with Rhamondre Stevenson already in place as the lead back?
Well, the Patriots could create a two-headed monster with a Stevenson-Jeanty duo that would give defenses fits, especially the versatility of Jeanty.
Dussault write:
“At 5'8" and 211 pounds, Jeanty combines elite vision, patience, and explosiveness. His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver makes him a versatile asset and one who could be a huge aid for Drake Maye's development. Yes, running backs are devalued these days and yes, there are probably going to be good backs drafted well into the later rounds, but for an offense that badly needs to be weaponized, Jeanty is the best weapon in this draft and a home run hitter who would instantly give the Patriots an elite threat and change the dynamic of the offense.”
Jeanty is an intriguing option for the Patriots because as Dussault highlights, his ability as both a runner and pass-catcher does protect Maye in a different way. The effectiveness of both Jeanty and Stevenson in the run game would set up a play-action passing attack that would fit the strong suit of Maye. This also fits what Vrabel and returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels like to do offensively. With Vrabel’s physical approach of running the ball combined with McDaniels play calling vision with does feature a lot of play action, the Patriots could set up a very interesting offense with Jeanty in the mix.
The question surrounding this pick is whether any team will take a running back high in the draft. With the season Saquon Barkley had with the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, most teams will turn their attention back to the running back position as an emphasis offensively. In Jeanty, the Patriots would get a player who could create in space and keep the chains moving. While the team wouldn’t be addressing a top need with this selection, there’s a dynamic element to Jeanty that could add explosiveness to the offensive approach.