So far this offseason, the New England Patriots have been hard at work to put surprise Pro Bowler Drake Maye in the best possible situation for the 2025 NFL season. The first major move was bringing in Mike Vrabel as the new head coach before a newsworthy offseason followed. However, the work isn’t done yet.
For the team to truly ascend to that next level, they need a home run in the NFL Draft. And one analyst believes they’ll start off strong in the first round itself by taking care of their biggest position of need early. New England, meet your newest superstar.
New England Patriots Predicted To Select Reigning Heisman Trophy Winner
On PFSN’s free agency grades for the offseason, New England was among the highest-graded teams, receiving an A-. Their acquisition of defensive talent was truly exceptional, but now is the time to bring in weapons for Maye.
The latest mock draft from PFSN projects them to do just that. While crediting the Patriots for their work in free agency, it also acknowledged the need for a wide receiver to be added to the current group.
Ben Rolfe wrote, “The New England Patriots have had a fantastic offseason, but they still have a few needs to fill. One of those is at wide receiver, though they also have questionable depth at cornerback.”
Hmm, a team needs a wide receiver and a cornerback. I wonder who in the 2025 NFL Draft pool could fill those holes. “Travis Hunter could address both of those needs with one selection, which is a rare commodity to find,” Rolfe added.
The biggest question with Hunter, of course, is which position he concentrates on. While he has maintained that he wants to go full throttle, it’s unlikely that a team will allow him to do that. But, the Patriots might be among the few organizations who, at the least, let him try.
“Opinions are split on whether Hunter should primarily be a cornerback or a wide receiver in the NFL, and New England might be the place where he can find that out in the easiest way possible,” Rolfe notes. Their depth on defense, though, should help Hunter focus primarily as a pass catcher.
“The Patriots have two studs at cornerback, so they do not need to rush Hunter into a full-time role in the defensive backfield. Meanwhile, he can play valuable snaps at wide receiver, proving his worth as a No. 1 receiver while having a smaller role on defense.”
In his final season at Colorado, Hunter was available for more than 84% of the team’s total snaps. He put in an electric year at receiver, tallying 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while showing off his one-of-a-kind athleticism.
However, most people, including ESPN’s Mina Kimes, believe that he could be an All-Pro level cornerback as a rookie. Recording nine interceptions at the collegiate level, he became an incredibly valuable piece for the Buffaloes.
For New England, Hunter brings them a genuinely unbelievable athlete who can develop his synergy with Maye in the years to come, while also becoming a valuable name on defense in select packages.
Given their needs, adding the reigning Heisman Trophy winner would be a no-brainer.