Is this rock bottom? The New England Patriots have won a total of just eight games over the past two seasons, but things are looking up, as they believe they have their long-term signal caller in Drake Maye.
You could argue that this team “lost” the draft late last season when they won their way out of the top overall selection, but when it comes to the players they added to this rebuild, we dive into the long-term fit.
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Overall Patriots Draft Grade: A
Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel, take a bow. The Patriots put together one of the strongest, most complete classes in the entire 2025 NFL Draft, and they did it with almost unmatched consistency across the three-day event. It started with Will Campbell: A no-brainer pick at No. 4 overall as a near blue-chip tackle. It continued with TreVeyon Henderson – not an immediate need, but an incredibly good and versatile football player.
Then, later on Day 2, the Patriots added a high-level separator, RAC, and vertical threat for Drake Maye in Kyle Williams, and they also brought in a potential long-term starter at center in Jared Wilson.
On Day 3, the value continued to roll in. Craig Woodson has well-rounded two-phase ability and starter traits. Joshua Farmer is an astronomical talent on the interior. Bradyn Swinson was a top-50 talent at EDGE off film alone, and the Patriots got him in Round 5. Later, they added another versatile weapon in Brashard Smith.
The only potential knock you could ascribe to the Patriots’ class is that they spent two picks on special teams players: A kicker in Round 6, and a long snapper in Round 7. But the opportunity cost is minimal in the later rounds, and the Patriots did so much great work with their early and middle-round picks that it didn’t matter all too much in the end.
Grades for Every Patriots Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 4
Will Campbell, OT | LSU
Grade: A-
With a franchise quarterback to protect in Drake Maye, it’s no surprise that the Patriots used their top-five selection in the 2025 NFL Draft to shore up their protection unit. Will Campbell accomplishes that goal with aplomb, profiling as a near blue-chip prospect on the blind side.
The only reason this pick doesn’t get an A+ is because Armand Membou is slightly higher on my board, but Campbell is still a top-five prospect, with a long-term starter projection. His athleticism at 6’6”, 319 pounds underpins his game, but he’s also polished with his feet, violent with his hands, and well-versed in both phases of the game.
At his size, Campbell does play a bit tall with his pads at times, and his sub-33” arms were the source of debate all throughout the draft season. However, Campbell is one of the few who have the physical gifts, operational strengths, and competitive mentality to supersede any limitations and lock down the left side.
- Round 2, Pick 38
TreVeyon Henderson, RB | Ohio State
Grade: B
The Patriots had more pressing needs at both WR and EDGE, with solid value on the board at both spots, so taking an RB early in a deep RB class will have its downsides. But Antonio Gibson is on a short-term deal, and Rhamondre Stevenson’s consistency has been an issue at times. TreVeyon Henderson improves the rotation’s floor, and he can offer much more than that.
At around 5’10”, 202 pounds, Henderson is a compact, low-to-the-ground runner with stellar slashing explosiveness, one-cut agility, finishing physicality, and receiving versatility.
He’s a ready-made pass-catching threat and a bouncer as a pass blocker – a trait that’ll help improve Drake Maye’s security. The Patriots will need to address remaining needs later on, but Henderson is nothing but a quality addition.
- Round 3, Pick 69
Kyle Williams, WR | Washington State
Grade: A
Entering the draft, one of the most obvious needs league-wide was the Patriots’ left tackle spot. The Patriots’ wide receiver corps might have been second on that list, and New England finally addressed the position with a strong value in Kyle Williams.
The Washington State product rose up draft boards late in the process after excelling at the Senior Bowl and running a 4.4 at the Combine. His ability to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage should inject New England with a sorely needed dose of plus route-running, giving him solid YAC upside as a Z receiver.
Williams should challenge for the No. 2 receiver spot next to Stefon Diggs right away.
- Round 3, Pick 95
Jared Wilson, C | Georgia
Grade: B+
The New England Patriots went four-for-four in picking offensive players through the first two days of the draft. Regardless of how Drake Maye turns out, he can’t say the Patriots didn’t try to support his development.
Jared Wilson is the third interior offensive lineman from Georgia to go off the board on Friday. Wilson was only a one-year starter for the Bulldogs, but he impressed in pass protection with his strong base and hand usage.
While the Patriots have veteran Garrett Bradbury around as a short-term solution, seeing Wilson sooner rather than later wouldn’t be surprising.
- Round 4, Pick 106
Craig Woodson, S, California
Grade: A
This is a sneaky pick for the Patriots that we happen to like a lot. The long-term futures of both Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger are uncertain, and soon enough, the Patriots would have to look at a succession plan. Woodson has a chance to be an upgrade, and he’s one of the most well-rounded safeties in the class.
At 6’0”, 200 pounds, Woodson is strong, intelligent, and quick to respond in run defense, and as a coverage defender, he has excellent fluidity and spatial reasoning skills. A two-phase playmaker with an underscoring reliability, he’ll be able to deliver beyond his capital in the years to come.
- Round 4, Pick 137
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
Grade: A
Joshua Farmer felt like a potential Day 2 selection as a disruptive pass rusher who had nine sacks and 15 TFLs the last two seasons. Farmer profiles as a potential 3-technique, where the Patriots are already deep with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
Farmer brings a broad build at 6’3”, 305-pounds with extremely long 35-inch arms for a DT. Coupled with his explosive movement, Farmer was able to overwhelm most college guards, and has decently polished hands for pass rushing.
His selection might be an ominous sign for Barmore, though, who missed all but four games in 2024 due to repeated blood clot issues. For what it’s worth, the Patriots did indicate that Barmore will participate in offseason activities, so this could simply be about building depth and adding insurance.
- Round 5, Pick 146
Bradyn Swinson, EDGE | LSU
Grade: A+ - Round 6, Pick 182
Andres Borregales, K | Miami
Grade: C- - Round 7, Pick 220
Marcus Bryant, OT | Missouri
Grade: C+ - Round 7, Pick 251
Julian Ashby, LS, Vanderbilt
Grade: C- - Round 7, Pick 257
Kobee Minor, CB | Memphis
Grade: B+