Pats Pulpit
The Patriots add multiple Buckeyes in this mock draft, including at the end of Round 1.
In my first mock draft, I explored what the New England Patriots could do if pass rusher Abdul Carter were to fall to them at pick No. 4. In this one, I will take a look at how things could pan out if he and Colorado’s Travis Hunter are both gone once the Patriots are on the clock.
1-4: OL Will Campbell (LSU): Does the LSU offensive linemen have what it takes to play tackle at a high level in the NFL? I remain uncertain. But the Patriots enter the 2025 offseason with only one quality starter on the line, Michael Onwenu at RG. That leaves both spots on the left side, plus right tackle, available for Campbell to potentially slot into.
Campbell is the best offensive line prospect in this draft, and there’s a real possibility he’s the best player on the board when the Patriots are on the clock. While his exact positional fit may be uncertain at this point, he found success against some of the best talent in college football from a young age. Campbell has a nasty streak in the run game and has allowed just four sacks across three full seasons since becoming the starting left tackle as a true freshman for the Tigers.
TRADE: New England trades 2-38 and 3-77 to Baltimore Ravens for 1-27
1-27: WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State): You won’t find a more pro-ready wide receiver in this class than Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. The senior wide receiver is a polished route runner and red zone threat who just knows how to make plays. Egbuka has a pair of 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown receiving seasons under his belt despite playing behind Marvin Harrison Jr. for two years and top freshman Jeremiah Smith this past season.
Egbuka is a tough football player who is not afraid to do the dirty work in an offense, and he comes from a winning culture at Ohio State, Mike Vrabel’s alma mater. He’s also been remarkably productive, averaging over two yards per route run in all three seasons as a starter. In New England, he’d project into a role similar to the one Ja’Lynn Polk was expected to fill.
3-69: ED Josaiah Stewart (Michigan): The Patriots had the worst pass rush in the NFL last season, and this selection is made with fixing that in mind. Stewart played at Michigan the last two years after transferring from Coastal Carolina, winning a national championship in 2023 with a sack against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
While Stewart is undersized at just 245 pounds and with shorter arms, he has a strong track record of production with 30 career sacks, including 14 over two seasons with Michigan. He has surprising strength for his small frame, and Vrabel has been willing to worked with smaller pass rushers before. Stewart had 37 pressures in 2024 and registered a 92.3...
