Our staff has compiled what the top 'experts' are predicting the New England Patriots will do in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
EXPERT: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 24, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Jeremiah's Analysis:
"The Patriots must upgrade the left tackle position heading into Year 2 for Drake Maye. Campbell fits the bill. He'll be a long-term starter for New England."
Click here for Daniel Jeremiah's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston
LAST UPDATED: April 24, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Perry's Analysis:
"This one simply makes too much sense for the Patriots. Campbell is widely regarded by evaluators as the top offensive tackle in an imperfect tackle class. He possesses elite movement skills. He was a three-year starter in the SEC. And his intangibles have made a fantastic impression on decision-makers at One Patriot Place throughout the pre-draft process. His arms measured just 33 inches at his Pro Day, leading some to wonder whether his best fit will ultimately be at guard. But Campbell's combination of athleticism, toughness and intelligence will help make him a leader in a locker room that could use as much of that as it can get."
Click here for Phil Perry's full Patriots mock draft.
EXPERT: Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, ESPN
LAST UPDATED: April 24, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Kiper / Yates Analysis:
"With a pair of notable needs at offensive tackle and receiver, the Patriots have work to do in supporting quarterback Drake Maye in his second season. Campbell checks one box. He has outstanding footwork, yielding just two sacks over the past two seasons. And despite his modest 32⅝-inch arm length, Campbell is a starting NFL left tackle. Coaches who have played against Mike Vrabel-led teams in the past told me Campbell embodies attributes that the Pats' new coach values in his players: toughness, dependability and physicality.
Kiper's notes: Everything I've heard tells me the top four picks are pretty set. It's really Jacksonville at No. 5 where things could get interesting."
Click here for Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates Co-Mock Draft.
EXPERT: Alex Barth, 98.5 FM
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Barth's Analysis:
"Campbell who at this point is arguably the best player on the board at a premium position - most people have tackle second or third on that list behind quarterback an maybe edge rusher. It just so happens that it's also the Patriots' most glaring need right now. Combine that with the fact that there's a chance all of the projected starting caliber tackles will be gone by Pick 38, and the Patriots do what they need to in order to make sure they have the blindside protected."
Click here for Alex Barth's full Patriots mock draft.
EXPERT: Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Prisco's Analysis:
"Yes, he's coming off a knee injury, but he is expected to be ready for camp. He's special. He's athletic, can move and is just scratching the surface of what he can be. Plug and play at left tackle."
Click here for Pete Prisco's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Rob Rang, Fox Sports
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State
Rang's Analysis:
"Sure, Drake Maye could use an improved offensive line, but I have a hard time imagining New England passing up the opportunity to land Carter if he were available here. His burst and bend off the edge make him an immediate double-digit sack candidate for defensive-minded head coach Mike Vrabel and a franchise seeking to rebuild 'The Patriot Way.'"
Click here for Rob Rang's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Danny Kelly, The Ringer
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Kelly's Analysis:
"The Patriots fill a big need here in grabbing Campbell, who should get a shot at starting at left tackle right away. Campbell's lack of arm length is a concern, but he is a smooth mover with good quickness for mirroring on the edge. "
Click here for Danny Kelly's full mock draft.
EXPERT: OurLads.com
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
OurLads's Analysis:
"The first curveball of the draft, as many assume offensive line here but the lack of value at that spot and the fact Jeanty has fans in the building brings us here. Drake Maye in 2024 and Jeanty in 2025 gives the organization the backbone of this offense for the next decade. An offense that was bottom three in scoring each of the past two seasons"
Click here for OurLads.com's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Todd McShay, The McShay Report
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
McShay's Analysis:
"We got a guy that we believe that's going to come in right away and become the alpha dog in that O-line room and keep people accountable, I think that could be part of the decision there. So when I say 'safe,' I'm leaning towards that stuff."
Click here for Todd McShay's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Josh Edwards, CBS Sports
LAST UPDATED: April 23, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Edward's Analysis:
"New England signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, but lack a starting left tackle that inspires confidence. The Patriots may be inclined to take a blue-chip talent at another position if one were available, but this draft class is not necessarily conducive to that line of thinking. Instead, they stay put and make the sound decision to invest in Drake Maye's protection; arm length be darned."
Click here for Josh Edward's three-round mock draft.
EXPERT: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 22, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Brook's Analysis:
"Protecting Drake Maye is a top priority for a front office that wants to see the franchise quarterback flourish in Year 2. "
Click here for Bucky Brook's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Eric Edholm, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 21, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Edholm's Analysis:
"Mike Vrabel knows he needs to protect Drake Maye, but the Patriots also need leaders and reliable building blocks. Campbell fills all of those voids."
Click here for Eric Edholm's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Chad Reuter, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 21, 2025
PICK: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Reuter's Analysis:
"In this scenario, the Patriots take the best player on the board and meet their need at offensive tackle with picks in the second and fourth rounds. New head coach Mike Vrabel knows the value that a premier back can bring, having watched Derrick Henry carry his previous Titans teams to the playoffs. While Jeanty's not as big as Henry, he has considerable power through contact and the burst to create explosive plays in the run game."
Click here for Chad Reuter's seven-round mock draft.
EXPERT: Vinny Iyer, The Sporting News
LAST UPDATED: April 21, 2025
PICK: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Iyer's Analysis:
"The Patriots can get a two-way player who's received high praise for both sides of his game. Defensive-minded coach Mike Vrabel also played offense for Bill Belichick, and wide receiver Troy Brown once helped them by crossing over to cornerback. As a corner, Hunter has some of the same qualities as Darrelle Revis and Darius Slay. As a wideout, Hunter can be compared to former Ohio State stars Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.."
Click here for Vinny Iyer's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
LAST UPDATED: April 21, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Wilson's Analysis:
"Campbell started in the SEC as a freshman, played (and played well) against some of the best edge rushers in the country, and the Patriots absolutely have to address the tackle position in the draft. Kelvin Banks Jr. is my OT1, but Will Campbell will be ready to start on Day 1."
Click here for Ryan Wilson's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Evan Lazar, Patriots.com
LAST UPDATED: April 18, 2025
PICK: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Lazar's Analysis:
"Assuming that Hunter and Carter are off the board, it comes down to Will Campbell (LSU) vs. Armand Membou (Missouri). I've already planted my flag on Campbell as my top left tackle in this draft in mock draft 2.0, but we'll make the case for Membou here because it is worth discussing. In some ways, Membou is a cleaner projection because he is not a statistical outlier in terms of arm length (33.5 inches) and wingspan (82 inches) while he still tested as an elite athlete like Campbell, ranking 16 among 1,502 OTs since 1987 in relative athletic score (9.90)."
Click here for Evan Lazar's full seven-round mock draft.
EXPERT: Mike Dussault, Patriots.com
LAST UPDATED: April 17, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Dussault's Analysis:
"While plenty has been made of Campbell's arm length and wingspan, not enough has been made of his historic athleticism at the position. According to Campbell's relative athletic score (RAS) his speed and explosiveness are elite while his size is rated as "good." But when you put them all together, Campbell grades out with the 15th-highest athletic score out of 1,508 offensive tackle prospects since 1987. That special athleticism should be enough to overcome any questions about his arms. Campbell's durability, consistency, and high-level performance in the SEC would make him an ideal candidate to join the Patriots' offensive line. "
Click here for Mike Dussault's full Patriots mock draft.
EXPERT: Dane Brugler, The Athletic
LAST UPDATED: April 16, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Brugler's Analysis:
"Should the Patriots consider Ashton Jeanty? Of course — he is arguably the best player available here. But Campbell also would be in the best available conversation at this point, plus he plays a position that's a major need for New England. The Pats nab the best offensive lineman in the draft."
Click here for Dane Brugler's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
LAST UPDATED: April 16, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Trapasso's Analysis:
"Easy pickings here for the Patriots, who get the consensus top blocker in the class for Year 2 of the Drake Maye era."
Click here for Chris Trapasso's mock draft.
EXPERT: Adam Rank, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 15, 2025
PICK: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Rank's Analysis:
"You might have had the worst offensive line in the NFL last season, and I get why you'd want to build that unit up, but passing on talent for positional need can set a franchise back. Hunter is a playmaker on both sides of the ball; put him in an offense with Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs, and now you've got something. Don't reach for the lineman here. "
Click here for Adam Rank's full mock draft.
EXPERT: Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
LAST UPDATED: April 2, 2025
PICK: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Zierlein's Analysis:
"I'm sure the Patriots would be more than happy to trade out of this spot, but this might not be a draft in which teams are trying to move up early on. New England could desperately use help at left tackle and takes a hard-nosed player whom Mike Vrabel should love."
Click here for Lance Zierlein's full mock draft.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
