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[New England Patriots]

#PostPulpit Mailbag: What to do if Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are gone?

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

The latest edition of our Patriots mailbag answers questions about the upcoming NFL draft.

We are almost there. The NFL Draft is officially less than two weeks away as the New England Patriots host their final 30 visits to and put together their draft boards.

So let’s talk all things draft and get right into this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag.

It looks like Ward, Hunter, and Carter will be drafted 1-2-3 leaving Shedeur Sanders available at #4. Do you see a robust trade market for that #4 pick should it line up that way? - coolbeanz

If both the Browns and Giants pass on Sanders, I’m not sure how other teams would feel about moving up for him. But it only takes one team to like the player. Both the Raiders (No. 6) and Saints (No. 9) held Sanders on pre-draft visits and have a long-term need at the position. As did the Steelers (No. 21), although falling that far back in the first round may rule them out.

I’d take a serious look at both Las Vegas and New Orleans if they’re interested — where you could pick up an extra Day 2 selection and a later pick swap or future selection next year. New England has held recent visits with players like Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart, who project to be fringe top-10 selections. They could be putting together their board in that range in case the opportunity to slide back presents itself.

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Two part question:

If Hunter’s gone before 1 (4) and no trade down materializes, do you see the Pats as a lock to go for OT and if not, who do you consider the viable alternatives? - wrw921

I would say OT — either Will Campbell or Armand Membou — is the heavy favorite with no Hunter or Carter available but would not lock them into that selection. If they go elsewhere, I’d look at Georgia’s Jalon Walker. It’s easy to see why there are fans of his in the building as he’s a versatile defender with plenty of juice and pass rush upside — who also is praised for his leadership abilities.

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If the Pats select Carter or Hunter at #4, do you believe they’ll be forced to trade back into R1 to select the best available OT? - DennyLemaster23

Assuming one of Hunter or Carter falls to No. 4 and are the pick, the expectation is New England would add an offensive tackle of Day 2. They would not be “forced” to trade back into Round 1 as the board could work in the favor — especially if a third and fourth quarterback slip into the back half of the first round.

But, they can not miss the run on tackles like they did last year which saw five come off the board within 15 selections before New England took Caedan Wallace atop the third round. If they need to be aggressive to assure they land a Josh Simmons, Josh Conerly Jr., or Aireontae Ersery in the late 20s or early 30s instead of at 38, they should absolutely do so.

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Bigger need for DL: OLB/speed rusher or DE/edge setter with pass rushing ability? - Spyponder90

Outside of Walker and Carter, New England’s meetings with players along the edge have been centered around prospects with more size. That included Shemar Stewart (267 pounds), Mykel Williams (267), Nic Scourton (257), and Femi Oladejo (261).

It’s also noteworthy that outside linebacker coach Mike Smith has a previous history of working with larger pass rushers — perhaps adding some more context as the type of player they ideally want along the edge.

“You look at the history of the guys that I have coached,” Smith said last week, “you think of the Rashawn Gary’s and the Zadarius Smith, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, and Danielle Hunter’s. I like big rushers. I like big athletic rushers.

When specifically asked about the 250-pound Carter later on, Smith did acknowledge that “these guys are starting to get smaller… It’s something you gotta adapt to.”

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Would you trade #4 and one of our 3rd RD picks for Joe Alt? He’d be the BPA and fill a need if he were in this year’s draft. Not sure the Bolts would go for it but it would be interesting to dangle the offer in front of them. - NewEnglandWhalers

I probably would. If Joe Alt was in this draft he’d be the easy pick at No. 4 overall. I’d give up one of the two third-round picks to make that happen and fill their biggest position of need with a prospect of his caliber.

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Outside of LT, are there any positions you would want to see targeted by the Patriots in this draft? - Sportzballer

Everything (except really quarterback and outside corner). But in this draft specifically, I hope they hit on running back, tight end, and defensive line. There’s a lot of good players at all those spots which should result in some good value.

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Isn’t Safety a sneaky need for Patriots? Xavier Watts seems like a perfect fit. - HB47

Safety feels like more of a long-term need rather than immediate. Jabrill Peppers remains on the roster. Marte Mapu, Dell Pettus, and Jaylin Hawkins return. Marcus Epps was added in free agency. And the team will hope a healthy Kyle Dugger can return to his old form as next offseason is when they can easily move off of his contract.

If they were to take a safety I would look more on Day 3 where Watts would probably be off the board. Texas’ Andrew Mukuba and Virginia’s Jonas Sanker could be fits based off the skillset they are looking for.

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Given the importance of TE on winning teams- think Kelsey, Kittle, Gronk, etc etc why don’t teams target TE in the top 5 of the draft? - PatriotsGlory

Outside of a rare prospect like Brock Bowers, the biggest thing with tight ends is that the position usually takes multiple years to develop in the NFL based on how different the usage is from the college game. Just look at the players taken at the position in the first round over the last 10-plus years: Eric Ebron (10th overall), O.J. Howard (19th), Evan Engram (23rd), David Njoku (29th), Hayden Hurst (25th), T.J. Hockenson (8th), Noah Want (20th), Kyle Pitts (4th), Dalton Kincaid (25th).

For the players who turned into contributors on this list, it took multiple years (and often a team change) to begin making a serious impact. There is the occasional Bower or Sam LaPorta (34th overall in 2023), but it is a risky position to target that high in the draft.

If New England was to take a chance early in this year’s class, I would prefer Colston Loveland (my TE1) in a potential trade up if he slides into the 20s.

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Which wide receiver in the draft, likely to be available in the 2nd or 3rd round, do you think has the most potential to be a chain mover? I’m looking for clutch hands, durable, gets open quickly, gets yards after the catch. I see so many articles fixating on long speed, but the receiver is wafer thin and often injured, or “contested catch ability” which seems like code for “cannot separate.”

Where is the guy you most want to go to on third-and-eight? - WannaBePatsGM

You are looking for Emeka Egbuka, my friend, although he should be a first-rounder and absolutely will be a top-40 pick. On Day 2, I’d nominate TCU’s Jack Bech. He’s quicker than fast, physical (a former tight end), will make the first man miss and had just four drops over his collegiate career. Bech did struggle with injuries at times, but he fits the bill of the qualities you’re searching for.

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I always liked LeGarrette Blount, 6’/247lbs. He’s not everyone’s favorite, but, it seems the Pats really miss that big back with explosion. Someone that can tire out a defense. At least used in tandem with a leaner partner.

The Pats currently have Jennings/217lbs, Stevenson/227lbs and Gibson/228lbs. Vrabel had Derrick Henry in Tenn, who is also a big back, 6’2”/247lbs. With RB a need and the success Henry had under Vrabel...if Mike was to lean towards a heavier back which ones may be a good fit for the Pats? - PatsHowYouDoIt

There aren’t many backs built like Blount or Henry these days. In fact, just four enter the draft weighing in over 240 pounds. If you’re looking for a more physical runner outside of Round 1, Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins is the top option with Miami’s Damien Martinez a personal favorite bruiser in the third or fourth round.

Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma St.) has an upright running style reminiscent of Henry but saw his stock drop after a disappointing season and Combine. Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter was also one of the most efficient runners inside the tackles and has a physical play style despite being 5’9”, 204 pounds.

When discussing the back that New England will draft, though, I can’t escape Robert Kraft’s comments at the league meetings about adding a “speed back.” Someone like Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson or Texas’ Jaydon Blue — both of whom had pre-draft contact with the team — in the third or fourth rounds make a lot more sense than a bruiser.

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So, if this is what they call the NFL silly season, where you can’t trust any of the rumors you hear, is there any chance that all the things the Pats are saying about Campbell’s arm length just don’t matter as he isn’t their preferred choice, but are making people think he is to drive up the price of a prospective trade back? - Loiosh

Absolutely could be part of their play here. I like to think back to Bill Belichick’s comments on The Pat McAfee Show last year where he noted that the true draft leaks do not start until about 12 hours before the first round; and that everything that is out in the press now is mostly from agents. Only two more weeks.

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.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/4/11/24405564/patriots-mailbag-trade-rumors-first-round-nfl-draft

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots draft profile: Will Campbell is a top-tier prospect, short arms be damned

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

The LSU product is arguably the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft.

The New England Patriots had to use a variety of left tackles during the 2024 season, but none of them proved themselves worthy of being long-term options at what is a premium position in the game. While two of them — Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace — remain in the mix as of now, the team trying to upgrade early in the draft is expected to happen.

If so, LSU’s Will Campbell might be the player to watch. He is a polarizing prospect whose NFL position remains unclear at the moment, but there is no denying he would be an immediate upgrade over what the Patriots have available on the left side of their line.

Hard facts​

Name: Will Campbell

Position: Offensive tackle

School: LSU

Opening day age: 21 (1/6/2004)

Measurements: 6’5 7/8”, 319 lbs, 77 3/8” wingspan, 32 5/8” arm length, 9 1/2” hand size, 4.98s 40-yard dash, 32” vertical jump, 9’5” broad jump, 9.91 Relative Athletic Score

Experience​

Colleges: LSU (2022-24)

Career statistics: 38 games (38 starts) | 2,553 offensive snaps, 222 special teams snaps | 49 pressures surrendered (4 sacks, 13 hits, 32 hurries) | 15 penalties

Accolades: Consensus All-American (2024), Jacobs Blocking Trophy (2024), First-team All-SEC (2023, 2024), Second-team All-SEC (2022), Freshman All-American (2022), Freshman All-SEC (2022)

As a freshman at Neville High School in his hometown of Monroe, LA, Campbell already played on the varsity team and never looked back. He led the school to four straight district titles and was an All-America selection as a senior. As a four-star recruit, he decided to stay close to home and joined LSU over offers from several powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Georgia and Texas.

Campbell immediately was inserted into the Tigers’ starting lineup and over the next three years started all 38 games he appeared in. Before opting out of LSU’s bowl game to cap off his junior season and college career, he missed only one game due to an illness. He received All-SEC recognition in each of his three seasons in Baton Rouge and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy honoring the SEC’s best lineman in 2024.

Campbell decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and had a 30 visit with the Patriots.

Draft profile​

Expected round: 1 (top 10) | Consensus big board: No. 6 | Patriots meeting: 30 visit

Strengths: Except for one much-discussed red flag — more on that in a second — Campbell has everything you are looking for in an offensive tackle and top 10 draft pick. He has the proper height and weight to make the transition to the NFL, and combines it with an outstanding athletic skillset. While usually not a descriptor used for players at his position, his movements on the field are nothing short of graceful for an offensive tackle.

LT Will Campbell in pass pro vs Shemar Stewart pic.twitter.com/m7oQvz58Hu

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) March 25, 2025​

His agility and body control allow him to stay balanced and in control both as a pull blocker in the run game or when going against pass rushers; there are no wasted movements in his kick slide. He combines those moving skills with a sharp processor, and reacts properly and quickly to line games while also being able to identify targets and take correct angles in the run game. He also plays the game with the proper power and has a nasty finish as a run blocker; his grip strength is impressive and he generally places his hands quickly and effectively to get the literal upper hand in 1-on-1 situations.

LT Will Campbell in pass pro vs Kyle Kennard pic.twitter.com/FWxOZNovHd

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) March 25, 2025​

Besides his on-field abilities, Campbell also managed to quickly establish himself as a team leader at LSU. By only his second season he was named a team captain, an honor he held in Year 3 as well, and he became the first lineman in school history to be awarded the No. 7 given to the best playmaker on the team from the state of Louisiana (he wore it as a badge rather than his jersey number to comply with SEC number rules).

LT Will Campbell blocking downhill pic.twitter.com/xCbRO5NRrc

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) March 25, 2025​

Weaknesses: We have to start with the elephant in the room: Campbell’s size, specifically his lack of arm length and wingspan. There is no sugarcoating it, either; he is a complete outlier when it comes to tackle prospects in those two categories. Using the Mockdraftable database, which goes back to 1999, he ranks in the 7 percentile for offensive tackle prospects in arm length and in the 0 percentile in wingspan.

He managed to work around those shortcomings in the SEC, but the NFL is a different beast with defenders better suited to exploit them. His margin of error at the pro level will therefore be slimmer than for other OT prospects, and his technique, anchor, footwork and pad level will need to be on point in order for him to live up to his expected draft status. That was not always the case even in college, though: at times, Campbell came a bit high out of his stance, found himself out-leveraged, or gave too much space on his inside shoulder.

Another problem with Campbell is his tendency to be penalized. After getting flagged once as a freshman and five times as a sophomore, he was responsible for nine penalties during his 2024 junior campaign. Most of those were mental lapses — seven of his nine in 2024 were for false starts — but he needs to clean up this area of his game at the next level.

Patriots preview​

What would be his role? That is the $43.7 million (i.e. what the fourth overall pick’s contract will be worth) question. The Patriots are, in a way, in a good position when it comes to looking for an answer, though: neither their left tackle nor their left guard spot currently appear to be set, which means that they could just add Campbell to the mix and see where he fits best based on the other pieces around him. He projects as a Day 1 starter at both tackle and guard.

What is his growth potential? Still only 21 years old, Campbell has plenty of room for growth despite already offering a high floor. Once he gets used to NFL play strength and shores up the inconsistencies in his technique, he has the potential to become one of the best linemen in the league regardless of position. His ceiling might be higher at guard than tackle, but he could become a Pro Bowl-caliber option at either spot.

Does he have positional versatility? Of his 2,553 offensive snaps at LSU, all but three came at the left tackle position. His versatility therefore is limited, and yet Campbell could be a candidate to kick inside and move from tackle to guard at the next level. That transition is not uncommon; four-time Super Bowl champion and ex-Patriot Joe Thuney made the same move upon entering the league in 2016 and quickly became one of the best guards in the NFL. Campbell does offer some added versatility as far as his work on the field goal and extra point protection units are concerned.

Why the Patriots? The general uncertainty on the left side of their offensive line is the obvious reason why the Patriots might be interested in Campbell early in the first round of the draft. He is arguably the top lineman available and would instantly upgrade the entire unit no matter where he ends up playing. In addition, he is an A-plus locker room presence and potential future team captain who could serve as a leader along the O-line for years to come.

Why not the Patriots? The questions about Campbell’s length and NFL position might be legitimate concerns and potential deal-breakers for New England. Spending the fourth overall pick in him might therefore be too rich an investment for the franchise.

One-sentence verdict: Campbell is a bit of a “love him or hate him” prospect at the moment, but make no mistake: he is a top-tier prospect worthy of being drafted early on Day 1.

What do you think about Will Campbell as a potential Patriots target? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/4/1...get-will-campbell-lsu-profile-scouting-report

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots draft rumors tracker: News, reports, whispers, gossip, and more

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and here is a collection of what is being talked about.

The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching, which means that the rumor mill is also working overtime. While a lot of the chatter surrounding teams and prospects at this time of the year will turn out to be either a smokescreen or misinformation, it also can give us an early idea in which direction the draft might go.

The New England Patriots, who currently own the fourth overall selection, are right in the middle of this process. What will happen with the first three picks will directly impact their own, while they themselves have numerous directions they could go on Day 1.

With that said, we have set up this Patriots Draft Rumors Tracker so you do not get lost within the information, whispers, and gossip swirling around. As always, the newest entries are added at the top. Please make sure to bookmark and regularly revisit in order to stay up to date.

Patriots draft news and rumors tracker​

The Patriots “have been telling people [Will] Campbell is their guy, as he’s more of a pure left tackle.” | Source

Penn State standout edge and projected top 4 pick Abdul Carter will visit New England on Monday, April 14. | Source

Georgia edge Jalon Walker “has recently been a hot name” linked to the Patriots in the first round. | Source

The Patriots have done “a lot of work” on Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou. | Source

Speedy wide receiver prospect KeAndre Lambert-Smith out of Auburn is visiting Gillette Stadium. | Source

Georgia’s Mykel Williams, one of the top edges in this year’s draft, is taking a pre-draft visit with the Patriots. | Source

The signs are pointing toward the Browns going after WR/CB Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in the draft. | Source

Another Texas A&M edge, projected first-round pick Shemar Stewart, is taking a 30 visit with the Patriots. | Source

Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden was the Patriots’ lone representative at Travis Hunter’s workout at Colorado. | Source

Florida State interior defensive lineman Joshua Farmer is the latest player to visit Foxboro. | Source

Projected top 10 draft pick Mason Graham out of Michigan is taking a pre-draft visit to New England. | Source

Neither the Browns nor Giants are trending toward picking a quarterback at No. 2 and 3. | Source

Texas A&M edge and fringe first-rounder Nic Scourton is visiting New England. | Source

The Patriots are entering the month of April with nine reported players on their list of 30 visits. | Source

LSU offensive tackle and projected top 10 draft pick Will Campbell “has fans” within the Patriots organization. | Source

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/4/1...draft-rumors-tracker-news-whispers-gossip-nfl

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots draft profile: Jayden Higgins has the makings of a starting X-receiver

Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

The Iowa State product projects as a second-round selection in this year’s draft.

The New England Patriots did spend some of their vast free agency resources at wide receiver, bringing in veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins to bolster a group that largely underperformed in 2024. They may not be done adding players to the mix, though.

With the draft coming up, the Patriots very much appear to be in the market for more receiver help. If that is indeed the case, there are several suitable players available including one of the most athletically-intriguing wideouts available: projected Day 2 pick Jayden Higgins out of Iowa State.

Hard facts​

Name: Jayden Higgins

Position: Wide receiver

School: Iowa State

Opening day age: 22 (12/15/2002)

Measurements: 6’4 1/8”, 214 lbs, 80” wingspan, 33 1/8” arm length, 9 1/8” hand size, 4.47s 40-yard dash, 7.05s 3-cone drill, 4.28s short shuttle, 39” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump, 16 bench press reps, 9.63 Relative Athletic Score

Experience​

Colleges: Eastern Kentucky (2021-22), Iowa State (2023-24)

Career statistics: 48 games (41 starts) | 2,431 defensive snaps, 13 special teams snaps | 350 targets, 227 catches (64.9%), 3,317 receiving yards, 28 TDs | 7 drops (2%), 1 fumble

Accolades: Third-team All-American (2024), Second-team All-Big 12 (2024), Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2023), First-team All-ASUN (2022)

Playing both football and basketball during his high school career in the Miami metro area, Higgins generated little buzz as a two-star recruit. He ended up joining Eastern Kentucky, where he spent two seasons and caught 87 passes for 1,151 yards and 13 touchdowns in 22 games with 18 starts. His success with the Colonels prompted him to enter the transfer portal in hopes of finally getting some love from FBS schools.

That did indeed happen, and he ended up choosing Iowa State over other offers including Minnesota, Northwestern or Troy. Over his two years at the school, Higgins started 23 of his 26 games and was on the receiving end of 140 passes that he took for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Draft profile​

Expected round: 2 | Consensus big board: No. 49 | Patriots meeting: Senior Bowl

Strengths: You look at Jayden Higgins, you see an NFL outside receiver. Standing at over 6-foot-4 (94 percentile) with an 80-inch wingspan (91 percentile), he has the size and length teams are looking for. He combines it with an intriguing skillset that should translate well to the next level.

Higgins may not be the most explosive player out of his stance, but his build-up speed, long stride and efficient movements allow him to cover vast stretches of the field in a hurry. He combines all that with active feet, which in turn enable him to run routes the way they are supposed to be run and to experiment with different releases and fakes to increase his chances of getting open; even if he does not create yards of separation, though, Higgins has shown he can bring in the ball no problem.

Jayden Higgins on vertical targets pic.twitter.com/SwwqpIICDd

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 1, 2025​

Higgins offers some impressive body control. This does not only show up in his routes, but also in his ability to win at the catch point. He turns around quickly and locates the ball well, and has the ability and physicality to make just about every catch an NFL-caliber wideout is expected to make: back-shoulder, jump ball, you name it — Higgins’ combination of size and catch radius, concentration and natural hands make for an attractive receiving option regardless of situation, call or coverage.

Jayden Higgins moving chains and scoring points pic.twitter.com/ZL2ZtmVR1n

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 1, 2025​

While mostly used as a perimeter target in college, Higgins also has some experience lining up in the slot. He additionally is a competitive blocker in the run game who offers the necessary tenacity to sustain blocks beyond initial contact.

Weaknesses: Higgins is not the most explosive player out of his stance and his 61-percentile 40 time suggests he will not be an every-down vertical field stretcher. His fairly average acceleration and quickness also mean that Higgins will not shake free from press-man cornerbacks easily, and has to rely on his still-developing release package to win. In general, there have been times he has been moved off his routes by physical coverage.

He also is not the most dangerous player with the ball in his hands, averaging only 4.5 yards after catch over the course of his college career. Some of it has to do with his work on the boundary, which eliminates one side to gain extra yards, but his short-area quickness also makes him not particularly well-suited to break tackles on the regular. He forced only 33 missed tackles on 227 career catches.

Patriots preview​

What would be his role? A big-bodied wide receiver with a proven track record of winning contested catches, Higgins has the makings of a starting X-receiver at the next level. He would play just that role in New England as well, competing with the likes of Mack Hollins and Javon Baker for top-level reps from early on in his career.

What is his growth potential? Higgins has some limitations, but he is still a player on the up who offers long-term potential as a perimeter receiver. Once he becomes more experienced in how to apply his physical skills to his advantage against pro-level competition, he can be a three-down presence on the outside of an offense.

Does he have positional versatility? As noted above, Higgins was mostly used as a perimeter target in college but also was moved to the slot on occasion (83-17 split). His usage in the NFL would likely be similar. The same is true for his special teams role, which was effectively non-existent at both Eastern Kentucky and Iowa State.

Why the Patriots? By now you probably know that the Patriots have room for improvement at the X-receiver spot. Higgins is one of several players in this year’s draft who could help out in that regard, but when it comes to overall body of work — skillset plus college usage plus production — he looks like a cleaner projection than the likes of fellow second-tier WR prospects such as Tre Harris, Elic Ayomanor or Dont’e Thornton Jr.

Why not the Patriots? Higgins’ lack of elite deep speed and YAC ability might not be what the Patriots are looking for within their new-look offense. Additionally, the board might fall in a way that will prevent him from coming to New England: the 38th overall pick might simply be spent on another position, with the three wideouts mentioned above — Harris, Ayomanor, Thornton Jr. — preferable targets later on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

One-sentence verdict: Given his sure hands, length, and ability to win contested catches, Higgins would be a quarterback-friendly addition to the Patriots’ offense.

What do you think about Jayden Higgins as a potential Patriots target? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/4/1...en-higgins-iowa-state-profile-scouting-report

 

[New England Patriots]

Sunday Patriots Notes: Trading down from No. 4 easier said than done

Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ draft position, their new O-line coach, offsesaon workouts, and more.

With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, the entire league is entering crunch time. Draft boards need to be finalized, targets identified, and trade talk intensified. Even though actual news are relatively sparse at this time in the league calendar, there is still a lot going on behind the scenes leading up to the big event.

Naturally, our focus this week has been on the draft first and foremost. To clean out the notebook from that and other stories that have emerged, please enjoy the latest edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.

Trading down from No. 4 easier said than done​

Owners of the fourth overall selection in the draft, the Patriots are in a good position to add some much-needed talent to their roster. With the chances of blue-chip prospects Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter falling to them not looking particularly good at the moment, however, they might actually be more interested in trading the pick rather than making a selection.

There are several factors playing into such a decision, starting first and foremost with the players on the board. Are Will Campbell, or Armand Membou, or Jalen Walker, or Mason Graham, or Tetairoa McMillan really worth pick No. 4? If the Patriots do not think so, a trade appears to be a realistic option.

“If somebody has an offer for us, I think we’d be willing to listen,” said head coach Mike Vrabel recently.

However, it takes two to tango. And while trading down from No. 4 might be a good idea in theory, the reality of such a move might not be quite as attractive. For starters, the obvious question becomes who to trade with. These are either teams very high on certain prospects and/or looking for an opportunity to jump a potential run on consensus QB2, Shedeur Sanders.

In the latter case, which is easier identifiable than the first, three potential trade partners stand out. The Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6, the New York Jets at No. 7, and the New Orleans Saints at No. 9. All three are in the market for QB help, and having the Patriots as willing sellers might prompt them to give up assets to move up the board.

What such a trade would look like is anybody’s guess, because there is not a lot of precedent to work from: since the introduction of the salary cap era in 1994, the pick has been involved in a draft day trade down only two times:

• 2003: Chicago Bears trade 1-4 to New York Jets for 1-13, 1-22, and 4-116
• 2014: Cleveland Browns trade 1-4 to Buffalo Bills for 1-9, 4-115, plus a 2015 1st

That second package seems like the best blueprint given that neither the Raiders, Jets nor Saints, nor any other team, currently owns more than one first-round pick in this year’s draft. For the Patriots, adding an extra first-rounder next year from teams set to play with a rookie quarterback might have some appeal: that pick very well could come early in 2026, increasing New England’s portfolio next year by quite a bit.

At the end of the day, though, it all comes back to the prospects and how teams evaluate them. If the Patriots think one of Campbell, Membou, Walker, Graham, McMillan, etc. is worth the fourth pick, they won’t move. Likewise, if the Raiders, Jets or Saints do not believe in Sanders being a player worth moving up for, they won’t move either.

What all of this shows is that there are plenty of factors involved in such a decision, and that willingness to trade might not necessarily result in a trade actually happening.

Patriots work out kicking prospect​

While 30 visits grab most of the headlines this close to the draft, there are other pre-draft meetings taking place as well. One of those happened recently involving a position that is a bit of an under-the-radar need relative to the big ones such as left tackle, wide receiver or defensive edge: place kicker.

According to an interview with the Draft Network, Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald had a private workout with the Patriots.

“I’ve had a few team interviews. I just had my first private workout with the New England Patriots, and I have more of them in the works with the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens,” he said. “I’ve been excited to show these teams what I can do. We’ll see what comes of it.”

A projected late-round pick, Fitzgerald made 94.1 percent of his field goals over the last two seasons. He also was a perfect 72-of-72 on extra points over that span. With New England expected to add some competition to a group currently consisting only of John Parker Romo, Fitzgerald looks like a potential target — one the team has shown some interest in.

Offseason workouts about establishing culture​

The Patriots returned to Gillette Stadium on Monday, kicking off the voluntary portion of their offseason workout program. The focus lies on strength and conditioning at this point in the process, but as free agency signing Garrett Bradbury pointed out there is more to be gained.

“A lot has been culture so far. It’s establishing a standard, an expectation. And we can take it a little slower. We’re not diving into the plays. We’re talking terminology, verbiage, expectations,” the veteran center said.

“We’ll get into the nitty-gritty details of it later, but right now it’s just trying to learn everything from the base up. We have plenty of meeting time over the next couple of months.”

For Bradbury, one important part of the offseason workouts — a though that was later also mentioned by tight end Hunter Henry — is building camaraderie with his teammates. After six years with the Minnesota Vikings, he knows only a handful of the players and coaches he will be working with in 2025.

“That’s what these months are for: it’s building camaraderie, building connections, being on the golf course, going bowling, going to a movie, getting dinner,” he explained. “That stuff actually goes a long way because it’s a long season, there’s ups and downs. If you feel like you’re in it by yourself, it’s going to be an even longer season.”

Garrett Bradbury already a fan of Doug Marrone​

Speaking of Bradbury, he also touched on his new position coaches during his media availability on Thursday. Doug Marrone, who was hired by new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason, will work with the offensive line this year alongside assistants Robert Kugler and Jason Houghtaling.

“I love former players as coaches. So, he played in this league for a while, he’s coached in this league forever,” Bradbury said. “From my perspective they have a different understanding. The coach speak, they can sometimes be, like, ‘Listen, I know I’m telling you to do this, but you have to get it done this way, this way or this way.’ He’s another guy where it’s a new system for him and he spent the last couple months learning it. He’s had a million systems. So, he can kind of understand how he wants to install it to us.

“He likes interactive meetings, which I love. There’s quizzes thrown out. There’s, ‘Hey, what do you have on this? What do you have on this?’ And, we have two assistants in the O-line room. That’s new to me, which is awesome because you have three guys that will know the system like the back of their hands if I have questions, anything I need to know, bounce ideas off them.”

Marcus Jones focused on defense first​

Cornerback/wide receiver hybrid Travis Hunter is one of the biggest names in football right now, and a unique prospect entering this year’s draft. However, the Patriots have their own version of Hunter on their roster already: 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones, who has played in all three phases of the game as well.

Will more of that be in the cards for Jones in 2025? That remains to be seen, but as he said this week, his focus is first and foremost on defense.

“Same question every single time,” he said. “If it happens, it happens, but my main thing is to learn the new defense and then kind of go from there.”

Jones’ offensive usage has fluctuated over the course of his three-year NFL career so far: he played 18 snaps as a wide receiver/running back/decoy as a rookie, followed by one in 2023 and five in 2024. In total, he has touched the ball five times for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Recovering Patriots present for offseason workouts​

Marcus Jones was one of 12 Patriots players to end the 2024 season on an injury-related reserve list. Of those 12, eight remain with the team; of those eight, six are confirmed attendees at voluntary workouts: besides Jones that list includes defensive tackle Christian Barmore, center Ben Brown, wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and JaQuae Jackson and safety Jabrill Peppers.

The only players not spotted from that group are center Jake Andrews and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy. That does not mean they are not present, though, only that said presence has yet to be confirmed. We are leaning toward “in” when it comes to them being part of the mix as well.

Hunter Henry happy to see Austin Hooper back​

Arguably the Patriots’ most important free agent this offseason, veteran tight end Austin Hooper was retained on a one-year, $5 million contract before free agency. The move allows the team to have some stability at the position heading into 2025, and to keep its starting duo intact — something the other half of it, Hunter Henry, is quite happy about.

“I love Hoop,” he said this week. “Really enjoyed my time in the room with him, on the field. We communicate really well and we’re from the same draft class, same age. We’ve known each other for so long, to actually play with each other last year was such a joy. Excited to be able to build upon that next year.”

Henry led the Patriots in receptions (66), receiving yards (674) and ranked fourth in touchdowns (2) a year ago. Hooper, meanwhile, was a vital part of the team’s passing attack as well, finishing his first season in New England with a 45-476-3 stat-line.

Lack of experience stands out in QB room​

Following their trade of Joe Milton to the Dallas Cowboys, the Patriots are in the market for a late-round addition to bolster their quarterback room. While such a pick would help address the issue of depth, it would not address the issue of experience: even with veteran Joshua Dobbs signed in free agency, the Patriots’ current QB group ranks as the fourth-least experienced in terms of in-game pass attempts.

Only the Minnesota Vikings’ (168), Pittsburgh Steelers’ (824) and Denver Broncos’ (865) quarterbacks have thrown fewer passes in the league than Drake Maye’s and Joshua Dobbs’ 887, according to research by drafthistory.com.

Hall of Fame decision should be quite easy​

The Patriots announced their finalists for induction into the team Hall of Fame this week, with wide receiver Julian Edelman, guard Logan Mankins and kicker Adam Vinatieri fighting for fans’ votes until later this month. Time will tell who emerges as the victor, but from this perspective there should be one easy-to-spot favorite: Adam Vinatieri, who kicked game-winning field goals in the Patriots’ first two Super Bowl wins, and helped set up the dynasty with an improbable 45-yarder in the 2001 divisional round against the Raiders.

Vinatieri was denied first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. The same should not happen with the Patriots’ version.

Setting up the week ahead​

In a way, it is the quiet before the storm. The final week before the NFL Draft will see the Patriots fine-tune their draft board and bring prospects in for visits. Among them is Penn State edge Abdul Carter, who will be in Foxborough on Monday.

Additionally, the players already on the team are entering the second week of voluntary offseason workouts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/4/13/24407129/sunday-patriots-notes-nfl-draft-trade