How bad is the 2025 NFL Draft class? The Honest Expert Opinion originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Timing is everything in life, and the timing for the New England Patriots’ entry into the 2024 NFL Draft couldn’t have been better.
They were a terrible team in 2023, finishing with a 4-13 record and earning the No. 3 pick in the draft. It just happened to be a draft with some promising quarterbacks, and they got perhaps the best one in Drake Maye.
The timing for the Patriots entering the 2025 NFL Draft isn’t great. They are once again one of the worst teams in the league with a 3-10 record entering their Week 14 bye. They currently own the No. 4 pick. But unlike last year, the Crazy class of 2025 isn’t considered very strong.
CBS Sports draft expert Mike Renner recently joined Phil Perry at NBC Sports Boston’s Next Pats podcast to talk about the 2025 draft class. Renner believes this class is one of the worst in recent memory.
🔊 Next Pats podcast: Why a ‘sexy’ decision is the right one for the Patriots in the draft | Listen and subscribe | Check out YouTube
“It’s really bad, yeah,” Renner said. “It’s because the key positions that you would ideally want to fill at the top of the draft — offensive tackle, wide receiver and I would say defensive end, to some extent — I think this defensive end class is insanely deep, but there is not a guy I’d give a top-five rating for. There’s no Will Anderson waiting for you, someone you know for sure when you call him up that you’ve got a good one.
“It’s a unique class, one where scouts have to make a living. If you had a top 10 pick last year, you didn’t have to be a good scout. You could have thrown a dart and hit a player who is All-Pro caliber. It was such a good design.
“This year I don’t think that will be the case. There are positions where this class is strong, but they are not the traditional positions that you hold in high regard. I think running back is one of them. I think … Ball linebacker is one of them. It’s also a pretty good class for safeties, but again, not the positions you normally want to fill in the top five or top 10.”
Renner called the class of 2022 similar to the class of 2025, with one notable difference.
“It’s reminiscent of the year Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson became No. 1 and No. 2,” Renner said. “I think it’s a little better than that year’s class, and there are a few quarterbacks that will make it interesting at the top, while that year didn’t have the QBs. But it’s a lot closer to that talent level than we are.” considering the past two years.”
While the class of 2025 doesn’t have any prospects that could be labeled as generational talent, there is still plenty of talent to scout. Although the class of 2022 did not have any Class A quarterback prospects, the following players were included in the top 15:
-
No. 2: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
-
No. 4: Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets
-
No. 8: Drake London, WR, Falcons
-
No. 10: Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
-
No. 11: Chris Olave, WR, Saints
-
No. 12: Jameson Williams, WR, Lions
-
No. 14: Kyle Hamilton, S, Ravens
The class of 2022 looks better overall than it did back then. Maybe the class of 2025 will be like that, or maybe not.
But if the Patriots were to get a player similar to one of the names in the list above in Round 1, that would be a successful pick for New England. The Patriots need to address a lot of roster needs in this draft, specifically offensive tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. They should be able to get a good player at each of these positions in the first round.
Also in this episode:
