New England Patriots 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Eilot Wolf builds a winner around Drake Maye

The New England Patriots are sitting at 1-3 after starting the season with a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.  That game showed what had to go right for the team to win games this season.  The three losses that followed highlighted the team’s insufficiencies on offense.

While fans are calling for Drake Maye, the reality is Jacoby Brissett is getting beat up behind an offensive line that just isn’t meshing.  Injuries have played a part, but the reason the O-line is really standing out is due to Patriots president of player personnel Eliot Wolf not spending or drafting high to fill the need of left tackle.  With the team’s offensive gameplan for the season being to run the ball behind Rhamondre Stevenson, the offense has turned back into the disaster it was the last two seasons.

If the running game can’t get established, that allows defenses to tee off on Brissett who isn’t as mobile or quick with the delivery as Maye.  After the 30-13 Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the decision making of Brissett is being questioned as well.  It’s early in the season and things may get better for the Patriots, but as it stands now, the 2025 NFL Draft looks to be a pivotal one for the Wolf and the Patriots organization.  They have the QB, now it’s time to build a winner around him.

Current state of the Tennessee Titans

• 2024 NFL season record: 1-3, 3rd in the AFC East

• Team offense: Rank 32nd (238.8 yards per game)

• Team defense: Rank 24th (353.3 yards per game)

• 2025 NFL Draft position: No. 3

• Top positional needs: LT, OL, EDGE, CB

2025 NFL Draft outlook

It looks this early in the 2024 NFL season that the Patriots are going to end up with another top 3 pick unless Maye comes in and sparks the team to win a string of games.  With the current construction of the offensive line, that seems unlikely, which is another reason Maye is not already the starter.

In not upgrading or barely addressing the position this past offseason, the Patriots must target one of the top tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft.  LSU’s Will Campbell is projected as the top tackle to come off the board.  He is valued as the best pass proctor and run blocker in the draft.  Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is an explosive and powerful tackle who could go later in the top 10 or early mid-round if the Patriots have an opportunity to trade back for more draft picks.

Other options at tackle include LSU’s Emery Jones Jr., Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr., Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea and West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum.

Some other positions of need for the Patriots will be on the defensive side of the ball, where a young cornerback, pass rusher and linebacker could benefit Mayo on the defensive side of the ball.  Here is an early-season look at what Elliott Wolf and the Patriots will do in this three-round NFL Mock Draft.

The Patriots trade the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams for picks No. 8, No. 70 and a 2026 fifth round pick.   Wolf jumps at this offer because the team will be able to fill an immediate need while gaining more draft capital on Day 2 of the draft.  With the pick, the Patriots select LSU tackle Will Campbell.

At 6-foot-6, 323 pounds, Campbell is ranked as one of the top two tackles in the draft.  Depending on the team, he could be the top tackle on the board.  The Patriots will see him as the better option over Banks Jr. due to his combination of size and athleticism.  A strong run blocker, Campbell can open lanes on the left side as well as protect Maye’s blind side.  The selection of Campbell will allow the Patriots to move 2024 NFL draft pick Caeden Wallace to the right side, move Mike Onwenu inside along with another 2024 draft pick Layden Robinson.  The Patriots could also have a healthy Cole Strange in the mix.

Wolf continues to make moves in this draft by trading the No. 34 overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for picks 40, 71 and a 2026 fifth round pick and a 2026 seventh round pick.  With their first Day 2 pick of the draft, the Patriots select edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau with the No. 40 overall pick.

A physical edge rusher, this Ohio State product would look good opposite Keion White and give the Patriots two young pass rushers with the ability to collapse the pocket quickly.  His quick first step and wingspan will make him a no-brainer in the second round for the Patriots.

With Jonathan Jones on the last year of his contract, the Patriots could have a need at cornerback and will jump at the chance to select Virginia Tech’s Doran Strong with the No. 70 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

As a tremendous cover corner guy, Strong will compete for CB2 on the other side of Christian Gonzalez immediately.  His ability to leverage receivers in press coverage and high IQ when dropping back in zone coverage makes him a solid pick for Wolf early in the third round.

Running back won’t be seen as a strong need entering the draft, but with a running back like Ollie Gordon II sitting there, the Patriots won’t be able to resist.

In securing the backfield behind Maye, the Patriots add another big back with similar strength and speed to that of Rhamondre Stevenson.  His ability to redirect and cut sharply when lanes are closing will give the Patriots another ball carrier who can break tackles and earn more yards.  His ball security will also intrigue the Patriots to snag him up in the third round.

The Patriots will still be looking to strike gold at outside receiver and will hope Oklahoma’s Nic Anderson will provide Maye with a big outside target to move the ball down the field to.

In another deep wide receiver class, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Anderson is a prototypical X-receiver as far as frame.  His explosiveness and ability to take the top off defenses will provide fun moments in Foxboro with the arm talent of Maye.  Anderson is also a red zone threat which is another area the Patriots will look to improve on.

Unless the Patriots lock up Austin Hooper another season, tight end will be another area where the team could use some youth.  With Hunter Henry approaching 30, Wolf takes the opportunity to bring in a young, talented tight end by selecting Georgia’s Oscar Delp with the No. 85 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Another solid pick for the Patriots on Day 2, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end adds athleticism at the position and will also use his physicality to create yards after the catch and will give Maye another target in the red zone to get the ball to.

In taking care of most of their needs, the Patriots will use Day 3 off the draft to add another anterior offensive lineman, a defensive anterior lineman, and more depth in the defensive backfield and perhaps a late-round linebacker who could help in special teams.