The 2025 NFL draft is just a little over a week away . One of the teams picking early in the first round of the event is the New England Patriots, who own the No. 4 pick – at the moment.

There is always the temptation to trade down that kind of high selection, especially if the top-tier talents become scooped up before the owner of that pick gets their turn.

On that note, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes that the Patriots could parlay their No. 4 pick into more assets should the likes of Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter be taken off the board before New England gets on the clock.

The Tennessee Titans have the No. 1 pick while the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants are selecting second and third, respectively.

If Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter is still available, then sticking at No. 4 and securing a freak athlete is probably the right play. That just doesn’t seem likely. Moving down could still allow them to address O-line early.

Abdul Carter visited with the New Englan Patriots before NFL draft

Nevertheless, Carter, who played college football with the Penn State Nittany Lions, has reportedly visited with the Patriots on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN .

Penn St. edge rusher Abdul Carter is visiting today the Patriots, who hold the fourth overall pick is next week’s draft. This is Carter’s last pre-draft visit, having already gone to the Titans, Browns and Giants; he turned down all visits of teams outside of the top four picks.

Regardless of any team’s need coming into the 2025 NFL draft, a talent like Carter could be viewed as a potential game-changer on defense. Carter had 12.0 sacks and four passes defended with 68 combined tackles in the 2024 college football season with the Nittany Lions.