The Patriots filled their biggest need in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft when they selected left tackle Will Campbell, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.
The Patriots have major needs at wide receiver, defensive end and defensive tackle. The draft is also deep at running back and tight end.
Here are some potential picks for the Patriots on Day 2 of the draft, which kicks off Friday night at 7 p.m. ET. They hold picks 38, 69 and 77.
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Once regarded as a Top-10 pick, Johnson fell out of Round 1. At 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, Johnson has prototypical size for an outside cornerback. He lacks high-end speed, however.
Outside cornerback is not a major need in New England, so this would be a “best player available” type of pick.
EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
Green was extremely productive in 2024 but comes with character concerns. He led the FBS with 17 sacks. He would be a major helpt to the Patriots’ pass rush if they’re comfortable with him off of the field.
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Vrabel will get all of the information he needs about Ezeiruaku from BC head coach Bill O’Brien, a good friend of the Patriots head coach. The BC product registered 16.5 sacks in 2024 to lead the ACC.
DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
An older prospect, Alexander will be 25 in August. He’s a tremendous athlete at 6-4, 305 pounds. He fits best in an attacking scheme similar to what Terrell Williams will run in New England.
RB Treyveon Henderson, Ohio State
Regarded as the better of two Ohio State running backs, Henderson was a team captain in 2024. He would be a pass-catching big-play threat out of the backfield.
TE Mason Taylor, LSU
The son of Jason Taylor and nephew of Zach Thomas, Taylor comes from Pro Football Hall of Fame bloodlines. He’s a versatile tight end capable of producing as a pass-catcher while serving as a reliable blocker.
DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
Turner lacks on-field discipline but excels as an attacking interior defender at 6-3, 290 pounds. He was a three-year starter at Texas A&M.
WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Regarded by some as the third-best wide receiver in the draft, Burden showed his full potential in 2023 as a 19-year-old sophomore, catching 86 passes for 1,212 yards with nine touchdowns in the SEC. He also made plays out of the backfield at Missouri and has been compared to a faster Deebo Samuel. He took a major step back in 2024.
EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Scourton still has tons of upside. He won’t turn 21 until August. He dominated the Big 10 with 10 sacks at Purdue in 2023 before transferring to Texas A&M, where he was a second-team All-American. He played at 285 pounds but measured in at 257 pounds at the combine.
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
One of the few prototypical “X” wide receivers who will be selected in the first three rounds of the draft, Higgins was lightly recruited out of high school but performed well enough at Eastern Kentucky to transfer to Iowa State, where he was an immediate impact-maker. He had 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
An edge defender out of Ohio State just like Patriots head coach Vrabel, Tuimoloau led the 2024 National Champions in sacks with 12.5 in 2024.
Tuimoloau would help the Patriots’ pass rush and run defense as a developmental edge defender.
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Another Ohio State product, Judkins had three straight 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown seasons in college. He began his career at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. At 6-feet, 221 pounds, Judkins tested well with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash.
EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
More of a designated pass rusher than full-time starter, Umanmielen led Ole Miss with 10.5 sacks despite missing two games with an ankle injury.
The Patriots need pass rush help, so drafting a player who might only help on third downs is still worthy of a Day 2 pick.
WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Harris was extremely productive last season with 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in just seven games before suffering a groin injury. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Harris can play outside as an “X” receiver or in the slot. Harris transferred from Louisiana Tech and had three 900-plus-yard seasons.
EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Another Ohio State edge defender, Sawyer racked up nine sacks last season as a team captain. The Patriots didn’t care about Campbell’s arm length. Sawyer’s arms measured at just 31 3/4 inches at the combine. That’s very short for an edge defender.
EDGE Bradyn Swinson, LSU
Swinson is another player who might be best served as a designated pass rusher. He has good size at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds and led Oregon with 8.5 sacks in 2024.
WR Jack Bech, TCU
Bech has good size for an outside or slot receiver at 6-foot-1, 214 pounds. He began his career at LSU as a teammate or Campbell’s before transferring to TCU. He led the Horned Frogs with 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions.
Bech lacks speed but is adept at making contested catches.
WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
Royals, like Harris, missed time in 2024 but still put up monster numbers with 55 catches for 834 yards with six touchdowns in just seven games. He was lightly recruited out of high school and began his college career at Georgia Military College. He broke out in 2023 with 71 catches for 1,080 yards with 15 touchdowns.
Royals ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.