The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is just hours away, and as exciting as it would typically be for Patriots fans, given that the team is picking in the top 5 again, it seems fair to assume who the No. 4 pick will inevitably be. That has become clear over the past two weeks, with all signs pointing to LSU left tackle Will Campbell becoming the next New England Patriot.

As great of an addition he will be to the offense, addressing perhaps the biggest issue with the offensive line, taking a lineman that early in the first round is not something many analysts or fans are thrilled about. Campbell looks to have all the tools to be a starter for the next decade, despite the concerns surrounding his size, which is exactly what the team needs.

However, it feels like the Patriots were backed into a corner to take him at No. 4 due to the expected first three picks stripping them of the opportunity to select a blue-chip player in either CB/WR Travis Hunter or EDGE Abdul Carter.

Both players have been connected to New England during the offseason and at one point or another, were the favorites to be their first-round pick. That has changed over the past month, as they are now expected to be off the board by the time the Patriots are on the clock, unless the latest apparent mistake by the Giants means a surprise is in store on draft night.

The Giants seem to have leaked their plans for the No. 3 (or later) pick

Because the assumption has long been that the Titans will take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, the attention has shifted to the Browns at No. 2 and the Giants at No. 3, and how that ultimately determines who the Patriots will take with their selection.

The consensus believes it will be Campbell, as Carter and Hunter are presumed to be off the board by No. 4. But the Giants might make the first shocking move of all and pass on one of the top two players and take a quarterback instead.

That is now the rumor after Giants’ general manager Joe Schoen’s son posted a highlight reel of quarterback Jaxson Dart on his Instagram on Wednesday night. Assuming it was a mistake, he quickly made his account private, but not quickly enough for fans to screenshot what he posted and make it into the latest big-time rumor.

Dart rose on draft boards in the days leading up to the draft, while Shadeur Sanders, the expected second quarterback to be taken, fell drastically and might not be taken until much later in round one.

If that is accurate, it’s possible the Giants are far more interested in a guy like Dart than previous reports have indicated, especially since it appeared they were the team most invested in taking Sanders to be their next franchise player.

Taking Dart would be a massive win for the Patriots, who pick just one selection after the Giants. That would mean that either Carter or Hunter would be available at No. 4 and force Mike Vrabel and Co. to rethink their strategy, assuming they were all-in on Campbell being the pick.

Even if the Giants wait to take Dart until the second round, the Patriots could still benefit from New York picking before them, allowing a pass rusher or receiver to fall to them with pick No. 38 that might have been off the board.

Regardless, this is another story to watch as the first round unfolds, and the Patriots could be the biggest beneficiary of the Giants’ decision. Let’s hope they surprise us all and take Dart (or another quarterback) in the first round to give the Patriots the best chance to get a franchise-altering player.