Pats Pulpit
The Patriots made 11 selections in this year’s draft, but some uncertainty remains.
The New England Patriots have been universally praised for their 2025 NFL Draft class, primarily because they managed to address the biggest needs on their roster without having to reach for talent. As a result, their current roster looks significantly improved across the board and a lot more promising than it did a little over a week ago.
That being said, some questions do remain even with the Patriots’ recent influx of talent. Let’s take a look at the most prominent at this point in time.
New England found its left tackle of the future in Round 1, picking LSU product Will Campbell fourth overall. They then added Jared Wilson out of Georgia in the third round to improve the long-term outlook at center. Questions still remain at two spots up front, though: center and left guard.
Who will start in those positions remains to be seen, with both seemingly open for competition. At center, Wilson will compete with veteran free agency pickup Garrett Bradbury, 2024 10-game starter Ben Brown, 2024 2-game starter Cole Strange; Bradbury has to be considered the frontrunner at the moment, but time will tell whether or not he will live up to that billing.
The left guard competition could be a two-horse race, with Cole Strange once again involved. With no additional players added in the draft, the former first-round draft pick, who had his fifth-year contract option declined earlier this week, is expected to go up against Layden Robinson, who started the final five games of the 2024 season in that spot.
The three other offensive line spots, on the other hand, appear to be set in stone. Campbell will start at left tackle, with veterans Michael Onwenu and Morgan Moses holding down the fort at right guard and tackle, respectively.
DeMario Douglas has been the Patriots’ most reliable wide receiver the last two years, but he will have some competition for the “go-to guy” title in 2025. Stefon Diggs and third-round rookie Kyle Williams both are expected to see prominent action within quarterback Drake Maye’s supporting cast this year.
Who among them will emerge as the top dog in the room remains to be seen, with all three having arguments in their favor: Douglas has the experience with Maye; Diggs has the résumé; Williams has the big-play profile.
The latter in particular is also expected to factor into the X-receiver mix. At the moment, that spot in the lineup is being filled by offseason signing Mack Hollins and third-year man Kayshon Boutte. Both have had some good moments in their respective careers, but neither is capable of striking fear in defensive coordinators’ eyes — leaving this a position that also is very much not yet set in stone.
The Patriots entered the draft with Drake Maye and Joshua...
