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Mel Kiper Jr. weighed in on possibility of Patriots trading back in the NFL Draft
"I'd bet the Patriots will be getting a few calls if the board falls this way."
Mel Kiper Jr.’s take on the Patriots at No. 4, and the possibility of a trade: Though the Patriots‘ Week 18 win over the Bills ironically managed to ruin the team’s chances at securing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it left New England at a fascinating pivot point in the league’s annual event.
The Patriots hold the No. 4 pick, a point at which many draft experts think could be when the real drama begins. Count ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. among that crowd, as he explained in his most recent projection.
“This is a trade-back spot if something presents itself,” Kiper wrote of the Patriots’ options at pick No. 4 in his mock draft released on Tuesday.
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His point was that with top-rated prospects Abdul Carter (an EDGE rusher from Penn State) and Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter (a wide receiver/cornerback from Colorado) theoretically off the board, the Patriots would be a potential trade spot for a team looking to acquire a quarterback. Kiper’s other pick in the top three is Cam Ward, one of the two first-round-rated QBs. That would leave Hunter’s teammate, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, available.
“I’d bet the Patriots will be getting a few calls if the board falls this way, and I’m sure they’ll be very interested given the holes on their roster,” Kiper explained.
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The Patriots have a plethora of talent gap issues at several key positions, both on offense and defense. Adding more picks would be a no-brainer for team executive Eliot Wolf and newly-appointed head coach Mike Vrabel.
Still, trades are often harder to pull off than most fans realize. And in the event that New England has to stand pat, Kiper had a particular prospect in mind at the fourth pick: LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell.
“But if nothing materializes, I like Campbell checking a box for New England,” said Kiper. “The Pats were 31st in pass block win rate in 2024 (50.9%) and allowed the league’s fifth-most sacks (52). They can’t have that with second-year quarterback Drake Maye trying to take the next step in his development. Campbell has the sound technique to effectively seal off the blind side, but he could also boost this offensive line on the inside if he ultimately fits better at guard.”
Trivia: Bill Belichick’s first draft day trade with the Patriots was made with the 49ers in 2000. It led, as many Belichick transactions did, to an additional trade the next year. In 2001, New England used the 6th-round pick acquired from San Francisco to trade up in the second round and pick what would become a very important offensive lineman. Can you name that player?
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(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He was selected by the Patriots out of Purdue 48th overall in the 2001 draft.
Scores and schedules:
Tonight, the Celtics will face the Raptors in Toronto at 7 p.m.
Also tonight, the Bruins host the Maple Leafs (also at 7).
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- ESPN analyst outlined a ‘bold’ trade the Patriots could pursue in offseason
Kendrick Perkins’s thoughts on the Celtics: Following the recent win over the Knicks, the former Boston center explained why he thinks the Celtics are on track to repeat. Other ESPN analysts disagreed.
On this day: In 1970, Don Nelson scored a career-high 40 points with 12 rebounds in an astounding 147-124 win over the San Diego Rockets. John Havlicek posted a triple-double (36 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) as Boston set an NBA record with 54 points in the fourth quarter. It would stand as the most points scored by a team in a single quarter until the Warriors broke it in 2023.
Daily highlight: Christian Ings threw down a vicious windmill dunk during a 69-60 win over Morgan State on Monday.
Oh my. 🤯#GoldStandard🔰 #SCTOP10 pic.twitter.com/oskuoYaOza
— Norfolk State Men’s Basketball (@NSU_BBALL) February 25, 2025
Trivia answer: Matt Light
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