2025 NFL mock draft roundup: Patriots have options with No. 6 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots have picked up a few wins in recent weeks, which could make things a little more interesting next spring.
After earning a top-three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft early in the 2024 season, the Patriots currently sit at No. 6 in the draft order with a 3-8 record. If they remain outside the top five, that likely means top players like Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter – a popular selection for New England in previous mock drafts – would be off the board.
So, which direction could the Patriots go if they pick sixth overall (or later) in the 2025 draft? You could say their biggest need at wide receiver is to back up rookie Drake Maye, who has franchise quarterback material but a serious lack of weapons. You could also make a case for an offensive tackle, as New England has the NFL’s worst offensive line at several points and should invest in keeping Maye upright.
The Patriots Also However, they have problems with defense. Their need for another elite cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez became apparent last Sunday when Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp torched their secondary. They are also missing a dynamic pass rusher after trading away both Matthew Judon and Joshua Uche.
The wide variety of New England’s needs is reflected in the wide range of mock drafts published since Sunday: We found five different mock drafts that projected five different players to go to the Patriots at No. 6.
Here are the choices and the authors’ explanations for each:
“Every week, Drake Maye shows why he was the third overall pick in the draft. Now New England must put the right supporting cast around him, both at pass catcher and on the offensive line. McMillan is the type of physical receiver you can send your passing game, essentially their version of Nico Collins in this scenario.
“Left tackle is a major need for the Patriots, but the offensive tackle class is no stronger than Kelvin Banks Jr. So instead of reaching, the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class.
“The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Johnson fits the mold of Pat Surtain II, showing excellent ball skills and the physicality to handle NFL wide receivers. He has been limited by injuries this season but has two interceptions, which both were returned for touchdowns.
“Pairing Johnson with 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez would give the Patriots a legitimate spot of strength on defense, and having two top corners on rookie contracts would give New England the flexibility to build around that.”
“Drake Maye has shown a lot of promise in his early appearances, so it’s nice to have confidence around him. They need to draft offensive linemen, sign offensive linemen and then draft some more offensive linemen. It starts at sixth overall .with the selection of Will Campbell.”
“Williams has All-Pro traits and with the right development in New England can maximize that fairly raw skill set.”
“It would make sense here to go with a playmaker or blocker, but James Pearce Jr. is a fundamental pass rusher.
“His play has improved throughout the season and the attributes are undeniable. His speed and flexibility put him in elite territory for this class, on par with the top prospects of recent years.”
