Quite a few players saw their draft stock go up with good performances in the East West Shrine and the Senior Bowl games.
I will utilize Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator. To me they are the most accurate and they make adjustments as we learn more about the players leading up to the April 24th draft. A good example of that was UNC Center Willie Lampkin. He was not on the original list of players that accepted an invitation to play in the game, He was a late add who played in the practices and game at 5’10” 270 pounds. Lampkin was not listed in the top 300 players to choose from in the PFF database until after his terrific performance in Mobile. PFF has him as the #4 Guard and #1 ranked Center in the draft. His overall rank is now 131st. I don’t expect that he will be drafted that high, but if the Patriots were interested in him, he is in a No Mans Land of draft picks. The Patriots have #104 and #144 and then nothing until pick #219. I must note that these draft picks are subject to be extended further out as the Compensation Picks are added after round 3.
Team Needs
x
Team Needs
OT (2)
#1 WR
Pass Rusher
LG
DT (2)
LB
Free Safety
Tight End
Center
Runningback
x
Team Needs
OT (2)
#1 WR
Pass Rusher
LG
DT (2)
LB
Free Safety
Tight End
Center
Runningback
You can’t project a Mock Draft without first projecting who the Patriots will acquire in Free Agency. Let’s talk about OT’s available. I am interested in Alaric Jackson (LAR) because of his young age. I also like Ronnie Stanley (BAL), but he is over 30 years old (31 in March). He would be a temporary move where the Patriots would have to draft someone to develop.
The 2nd priority would be a legit #1 outside threat at Wide Receiver. The Patriots have $131M available to spend on Free Agents … will the notoriously cheap Kraft’s spend to the cap? The only way to attract Free Agents to New England is by overspay.
The weather, nightlife (non-existent in Foxboro), facilities (NFLPA Survey) and finally the Massachusetts Millionaires tax have a negative effect in attracting Free Agents. Never mind they are 4-13 team the last two years. There is optimism in New England with Drake Maye’s emergence as a potential top tier QB, Mike Vrabel as the Head Coach and the proven ability of Josh McDaniel as an Offensive Coordinator.
The bottom line is the Patriots must outshine
The Mock Draft
Pick 1-4 Abdul Carter LB Penn State would be my choice at the top of the draft. However, as a draft exercise I picked a PFF Mock that had Carter being selected before the Patriots selection at #4.
With Carter gone, my draft philosophy changed. I still believe the Patriots Defense and their lack of pass rush, is the number one priority left for the Patriots after they have addressed Oline and Wide Receiver in Free Agency.
TRADE NE trades 1-4 to CAR for 1-8 and 2-58.
1-8 Mike Green EDGE Marshall – Green proved that he was no fluke in the Senior Bowl practices. Despite playing against inferior competition at Marshal he showed off all his abilities at the Senior Bowl practices. Green’s rep against Oregon OT Josh Conerly was a highlight of the week. Conerly was one of the best linemen in Mobile and is expected to be drafted in the late 1st round. I will preface this in that Conerly was asked to take some reps at Right Tackle by the coaches. RT is not his natural position and I am convinced that
some linemen just can’t switch over to the other side. Green surprised Conerly with a bull rush and knocked him back on his butt. Green may not be a 3 down edge player, but the need to put pressure on the QB in the new 4-3 that new Patriots Defensive Coordinator Terell Williams wants to feature is a top priority. Green will not last until the Patriots 2nd round selection. I just read that Green has some off field issues that the NFL is aware of which could affect his draft position.
2-38 TRADE to IND for 2-45 and 3-80
2– 45 Darius Alexander DT Toledo I thought that Alexander was terrific in the Senior Bowl practices. He really showed off his ability to get to the QB with his long 34” arms and 4.8 speed for a 6’4” 310-pound interior lineman. PFF doesn’t like this selection but I don’t care. My eyes saw what he did and in Williams new Defense Alexander will be a terror. He has the ability to play the DE position and put pressure on the QB from there. On passing downs I would see him moving inside and rushing the passer from the interior.
2-58 Jalen Royals WR Utah State Royals had a great week of practice but disappeared in the game itself. Without seeing the all-22 game film I can’t tell if he was just covered well, or the QB was pressured, taking their eyes away from Royals. He had one catch for a 2-point conversion on just 2 targets. He was overthrown on one other play and that’s it. Royals was one of the better players in getting separation all week. The solid 6’ 210 -pound receiver ran an estimated 4.38 40-yard dash and can play in the slot (Y) or outside (X) receiver. Royals had a terrific Junior season in 2023 with 71 catches and 1080 yard with 15 TDs. Royals injured his foot after 7 games and ended up with 55 catches, 824 yards and
6 TDs. Over a full 12 games season hat would have projected as 84-1429 –10. Matt Miller (ESPN) had Royals as a 2nd round selection in his recently released 2 round Mock Draft.
3-69 Max Hairston CB Kentucky The Patriots need a corner on the opposite side. Jon Jones is a Free Agent and on the other side of 30. Not sure if he will be brought back. Hairston stands 5’11 3/8” 179-pounds and was excellent in 1-on-1 coverage all week. In 2023 he had 5 INT’s of which he returned 2 for TDs. He ran a sub 4.5 40 and had 68 tackles in 2023. The redshirt Junior missed 5 games this year and played hurt in two others but still managed to be selected 2nd team All-SEC. He had another pick six in 2024. Mel Kiper had him as the #30 pick in his initial mock draft. Hairston is compared to Jack Jones as a ball hawk. Matt Miller (ESPN) had Hairston as a 2nd round selection.
3-74 Elijah Arroyo TE Miami The 6’41/2” 251-pound Tight End moved with the fluidity of a Wide Receiver. He was constantly beating man coverage and leaving DBs and LBs stumbling over themselves. He may have done more than any other player to help himself and his draft stock went way up. I don’t know why he was overlooked in Miami. He has a history of injuries which has limited him. His statline for his final season was 35-590-7. He had a nice 16.9 YPC for 2024. Hunter Henry is over 30 as is Austin Hooper who is a Free Agent and may not be back. Arroyo was also listed a 2nd round pick by Miller.
3-80 Devin Neal RB Kansas He has been the most productive back in Kansas history with 4343 career rushing yards in his 4 year career. That’s 49 starts and 49 TDs for his career with a 5.7 YPC. He finished his career with back-to-back 1200 yards seasons. The guy knows how to tote the rock. The 5’10 ¾” back weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 220-pounds. He is elusive with a quick change of direction. Mike Vrabel will not tolerate Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling and taking Neal is backup plan.
4=104 Sai’vion Jones This is another selection that the PFF model doesn’t like. I saw his battles with the highly regarded OL Grey Zabel during the game and Jones won his fair share of them, penetrating into the backfield either for a TFL or pressure on the QB to break up the rhythm of the play. That is exactly what Terell Williams is looking for from his linemen.
5-144 Billy Bowman Free Safety Oklahoma The 5’9 3/4” 198-pound Safety is extremely fast with an estimated 4.38 40-time. To play the single high Safety you need that kind of makeup speed which no Patriots safety has had since Devin McCourty retired. I believe getting a Free Safety in this draft is a priority for the Pats.
7-219 Issac TeSlaa WR Arkansas Anyone taken in the 7th round is a project or a player with some development potential. They are not expected to make the 53-Man roster the 1st year. TeSlaa is the perfect case. The 6’4” 217-pound wideout converted from QB to WR at Dll Hillside College. He had a breakout Junior season with 68-1325-13 statline, then transferred to Arkansas and was the #2 wideout with 34-351-2 for his lone season in the SEC. A note on TeSlaa is that he did not drop a single pass at Arkansas. He runs an estimated 4.5 which is very good for a player his size. I can’t wait to see his 3-cone numbers from his Pro Day.
7-222 Tyler Shough QB Louisville The 6’5” 225 QB is the prototypical size for an NFL QB. Shough is an older player who has played 7 College seasons. Last season was his only year as a full-time starter after transferring from Texas Tech. He threw for 3195 yards, and 23 TDs to just 6 INT. At this point in the draft a live arm in camp to battle for the 3rd QB position isn’t a bad thing.
7- 240 Hollin Pierce OT Rutgers The massive 6’7.6” 342 -pound tackle is the definition of a project. He looked good at the Esat West Shrine practices, engulfing would be pass-rushers. Pierce has 36 5/8” arms. New Oline coach Doug Marrone drafts players with long arms. Another project type player worth the last round selection
Lots will happen between now and Draft Day. Free Agency will shape and re-shape team needs, This is just a snapshot after the All-Star games.
Todd Downing Added as WR Coach
Downing is a former Offensive Coordinator under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. Last season Downing was the QB coach for the New York Jets. An interesting point brought up by Greg Bedard in and article in the Boston Sports Journal stated that this hire was strictly on Josh McDaniel. Mikw Vrabel excused himself from the interview. Bedard goes on to say that several of his sources inside the Patriots organization and outside stated that Josh McDaniels was Mike Vrabel’s choice and without an influence by the Krafts and despite the high number of coaches with OC credential that Josh McDaniel has been instrumental in their hiring
Dante Scarnecchia Coming Back on a Part-Time Basis?
One report said his participation will be infrequent, but nonetheless, if it’s true, it is significant, especially when it comes to drafting OL and evaluations of Free Agents, and which one to sign.
Patriots Sign TE Ricci to a Futures Contract
Giovani Ricci came into the league with Carolina and was with Cleveland last year but was cut before the season started because of a knee injury. The 6’5” 245-pound TE also has played Fullback, a position that Josh McDaniel likes to utilize.
Patriots 2025 Coaching staff:
HC: Mike Vrabel
OC: Josh McDaniels
QB: Ashton Grant
RB: Tony Dews
TE & PGC: Thomas Brown
WR: Todd Downing
OL: Doug Marrone
AST OL: Robert Kugler
Off AST: Riley Larkin
DC: Terrell Williams
DL: Clinton McMillan
OLB: Mike Smith
ILB: Zack Kuhr
CB: Justin Hamilton
S: Scott Booker
Sr AST Defense: Ben McAdoo *
DEF AST: Vinny DePlama *
DEF AST: Kevin Richardson
DEF AST: Milton Patterson
ST Jeremey Springer
AST ST: Tom Quinn
Game Management: John Stretcher
Director of Sports Performance: Frank Piraino
Strength and Conditioning: Deron Mayo *
AST S&T: Brian McDonough *
Mike Vrabel retained 7 members of the Jerod Mayo staff and added 18 new members to his coaching staff. I have to think that Drew Wilkins was a candidate to stay until he was offered the Defensive Pass Rush Coordinator position with the Rams. Wilkins received high praise throughout the league for his performance as Defensive Coordinator at the East West Shrine game. His East team shut out the West Team. That was the 1st time there was a shutout since 1969. Mike Smith was the last coaching addition to be revealed.
Robert Kugler was retained as an Assistant OL coach. Glad to see that because he will bring 1st hand info on the players he coached for the East Team at the East West Shrine game. Thomas Perry IOL from Middlebury College played for Kugler in the game.
Another surprise was the retention of Deron Mayo as Strength and Conditioning Coach. I thought he would be gone, not because he is the brother of Jerod Mayo, but because of the high number of injuries sustained by the offensive lineman. How is it that the Buffalo Bills play two season’s back to back, and have just one missed game by a starting Offensive Lineman? I have to believe it goes back to Strength and Conditioning.
Vinny DePalma the former BC linebacker will be retained for his second season with the Patriots. I can’t tell you a thing about what his duties were last year or what Mike Vrabel has in store for him this year. With the overall purge of coaches, DePalma must have made some type of positive impression to be retained.
