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After a disastrous 2024 season for the New England Patriots under former head coach Jerod Mayo, there’s a new sheriff in town, and his name is Mike Vrabel. And actually, he isn’t much of a new sheriff in town. Rather, he’s an old sheriff returning to town, given Vrabel’s time as a Super Bowl-winning linebacker with the Patriots. Now, in Vrabel’s first season as head coach, his team has the fourth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, as he and the rest of the coaching staff look to rebuild one of the best dynasties in league history.
The Patriots have needs across the board to make their team better, as was evident by their 4-13 record in 2024.
However, one thing the Patriots did learn is that they seem to have the right guy at quarterback, with Drake Maye earning a Pro Bowl invite after his rookie season.
Maye finished his rookie season, starting just 12 games after the Patriots took their time rolling him out onto the field. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett was the team’s starter for the first five weeks, giving Maye his first start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.
In Maye’s 12 starts, he led the Patriots to a 3-9 record, completing 66.6% of passes (225/338) for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. On the ground, Maye added 54 carries for 421 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
So, while they might have the quarterback position figured out, most of the remaining positions are not.
Tight end Hunter Henry was the Patriots’ 2024 receiving leader, catching 66 passes for 674 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, three players actually hauled in more receiving touchdowns than Hunter: DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Austin Hooper.
It wouldn’t be overly shocking if a handful of readers didn’t recognize those players, as they aren’t necessarily household names.
That’s mainly to say the Patriots’ list of needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft has receiver high up on that board.
And in this three-round mock draft, it addresses that need early with their first pick being used one of the best receiver prospects of the class.
Reminder: This is a simulated mock draft, using the PFF 2025 NFL Mock Draft Simulator.
While Tetairoa McMillan might not play both ways like Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the Arizona receiver has a case for best pure receiver of the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 212 pounds, McMillan has the size of a true X receiver — a player the Patriots desperately need.
In 2024, the Patriots’ top receiving wide-out was DeMario Douglas, who’s 5-foot-8, 192 pounds poses much less of a possesstion threat than McMillan would.
And given Maye’s ability to huck it deep, McMillan would pair greatly with the Patriots’ big-arm quarterback.
Now, one thing about McMillan’s game that isn’t elite is his after-the-catch abilities to burn defenders down the sideline.
As a big-body receiver, the...
