9 prospects Patriots fans should watch during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
"I think this draft is probably a little meatier in the middle than it is at the top in a lot of ways."
The Patriots might hold the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Eliot Wolf and the team’s top brass are going to need to hit on multiple picks this spring in order to shore up several vacancies across the depth chart.
“I think this draft is probably a little meatier in the middle than it is at the top in a lot of ways,” Wolf said on Wednesday. “There are some players not only up there, but throughout the rounds that can help us.”
Even though the 2025 NFL Draft might still be two months away, Wolf, Mike Vrabel, and the rest of the Patriots are already assessing some of the top prospects in this draft class during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Over 300 prospects are already on site for the Combine, which will run from Thursday until Sunday.
As the Patriots hold several meetings with top prospects, every NFL team will also get the opportunity to grade the next wave of NFL talent through several drills and measurements.
While Wolf, Vrabel, and the rest of the Patriots assess their options, here are a few players Patriots fans should keep tabs on — both in Indy and in the months ahead before the NFL Draft.
Abdul Carter — Edge, Penn State
The Patriots’ most pressing need this offseason might be a stout offensive tackle.
But if New England is looking at taking the best player available, the team won’t have any qualms if a game-changing pass-rusher like Carter falls to No. 4 overall. Carter was a force last season at Penn State — recording 12 sacks, 24 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles over 16 games.
New England is in desperate need of a playmaker on defense, as the team ranked dead-last in the NFL in 2024 with just 28 sacks on the year. Carter acknowledged earlier this week that he’s already had a meeting with Vrabel.
“Very serious, very upfront guy,” Carter said of New England’s head coach. “Like, all about his business, which is what I like. He was really straightforward with me.”
While the prospect of seeing Carter terrorize opposing QBs is an appealing scenario, it remains to be seen if he’ll still be on the board when New England picks at No. 4.
Travis Hunter — CB/WR, Colorado
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner would check off plenty of boxes for New England if he falls to the team at No. 4. Both scouts and fans will be watching Hunter closely in Indy — given his unique skillset as both a shutdown cornerback and a dynamic wide receiver.
It remains to be seen if Hunter can play both positions at the NFL level — or whether or not he’s better suited to stick to just one position moving forward. Hunter could hold plenty of appeal to the Patriots — be it as a dynamic, No. 1 wideout for Drake Maye or as a fellow ball-hawking cornerback alongside Christian Gonzalez.
Hunter could also conceivably function as a regular CB in Foxborough, while also logging 10-15 snaps on offense as more of a gadget-type player.
“He’s a unique player,” Titans head coach Brian Callahan said of Hunter. “There’s not a whole of other players you could compare what he’s done. There’s not many guys who have played that many snaps on both sides of the ball. You watch his tape and you see his ability to play both at a very high level.”
But Hunter’s future might also be determined by whichever team takes him in late April. Much like Carter, the Patriots might see Hunter get taken off the board before they pick.
Mason Graham — DT, Michigan
A defensive tackle may not be the flashiest option. But if the Patriots are sticking at No. 4 overall and they’re focusing on pure talent over positional need, Graham makes a whole lot of sense.
Graham was a one-man wrecking crew with Michigan since getting named as a starter in Ann Arbor — posting 81 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks since the start of the 2023 season.
As evidenced by the Eagles’ dominant showing against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, a dangerous defensive line capable of dominating at the line of scrimmage can be a foundational strength.
And if Graham is as advertised, there’s a lot to like about a D-line in Foxborough that could feature him alongside Keion White and Christian Barmore (if healthy).
Will Campbell — OT, LSU
As far as the most pressing need for New England this offseason, it has to be protecting Maye under center.
New England allowed 52 sacks this past season — the fifth-most in the NFL, and the most sacks allowed in New England over one year since 1999.
Given New England’s porous O-line play, landing a franchise left tackle in this draft would elevate the Patriots’ offensive ceiling in record time.
There’s a lot to like about a tackle like Campbell, who has been a stalwart on LSU’s offensive line while holding his own against some of the top pass-rushing talent in the collegiate ranks during SEC play. As noted by Patriots.com, Campbell allowed just two sacks in 1,049 pass-blocking snaps over the last two seasons with the Tigers.
Campbell has been tabbed as a likely selection by New England in multiple mock drafts — including ones where the Patriots take him at No. 4 overall or select him a few spots further down on the board after trading down.
One thing worth keeping tabs on with Campbell during the Scouting Combine are his measurables, especially when it comes to arm length. If Campbell’s arms measure out under 33 inches, the case can be made that he’s better suited as a guard at the NFL level — hindering his value to a team like New England.
Mykel Williams — Edge, Georgia
If the Patriots are still looking to land a pass rusher with Carter off the board, there are several interesting options that New England can turn to, especially if they trade down a bit further in the first round.
While Georgia’s Jalon Walker has received plenty of hype, his teammate Mykel Williams could be a top target if he tests well.
Even though Williams’ stats may not leap off the page (five sacks last season), his 6-foot-5 frame and explosive athleticism could make him the type of player who thrives at the next level.
“I’ve been told Mykel Williams is a better version of (2022 No. 1 pick) Travon Walker,” NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry said on “The Next Pats Podcast.” “More instinctive. He is a long, he’s flexible, he bends, he has power, he runs well. He plays a premium position. He has rare physical traits in a draft class that is lacking high-end talent and players with those types of traits.
“And so if he gets through the process and aces every test, and it looks like he’s only got room to grow — this guy is still 20 years old. He’ll be 20 years old when he’s drafted. He doesn’t turn 21 until late June. There’s a lot to like there. Just keep an eye on him.”
Isaiah Bond — WR, Texas
This isn’t exactly the deepest draft class for pass-catchers — which isn’t good news for a Patriots team that hasn’t had a wideout record over 1,000 yards in a season since Julian Edelman in 2019.
If the Patriots do trade down in the first round, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is a player worth following. But if New England is trying to find value in the late first round or early second round, a speedster like Bond is someone the Patriots should monitor.
Unlike the 6-foot-5 McMillan, Bond isn’t the most imposing figure at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds. But much like how Xavier Worthy rocketed up the draft leaderboard last year after his blistering performance in the 40-yard dash, Bond should also see his stock soar thanks to his explosive speed.
Over his three seasons of college football — two at Alabama and one at Texas — Bond posted 99 catches for 1,428 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
If the Patriots are looking for game-changing speed, a player like Bond could be a great Day 2 target — although he could sneak up to the end of the first round with a strong showing at the combine.
A fellow Longhorns wideout in Matthew Golden might have posted better numbers (987 yards, nine touchdowns in 2024), but a burner like Bond could have a higher ceiling at the next level.
Jack Sawyer — Edge, Ohio State
New England should find plenty of solid depth in the second and third rounds of this draft, with a potent pass rusher like Sawyer putting himself on the radar of every NFL team after a dominant performance during Ohio State’s run to a national title.
Sawyer had 59 total tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception, and 64 pressures this past season with the Buckeyes — recording a scoop-and-score fumble touchdown against Texas in the 2025 Cotton Bowl to punch Ohio State’s ticket to the national championship game.
Vrabel — who played at Ohio State from 1993-96 — might already have an affinity for a player who played a key role in the Buckeyes’ latest national title. But regardless of Vrabel’s alma mater, Sawyer is the type of high-motor player who could make an immediate impact for New England in 2025.
Donovan Ezeiruaku — Edge, Boston College
There are several Boston College products worth following in Indy, including offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo.
But much like Sawyer, Ezeiruaku is another potential second-round pick who could significantly boost New England’s pass-rushing capabilities.
Ezeiruaku isn’t the biggest body at 6-foot-2, but the stats speak for themselves — with the defensive end winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with a conference-best 16.5 sacks.
“To me, there’s a body type, but there’s also production,’ BC head coach Bill O’Brien told MassLive’s Karen Guregian of Ezeiruaku. “Against really good teams, he basically single-handedly won us a couple games this year with strip sacks, and chasing plays down. So I definitely think he’s a first rounder, and obviously, I’m very biased.”
Josh Simmons — OT, Ohio State
Another potential Day 2 pick for New England, Simmons could be a huge value add for New England on the offensive line — so long as he’s healthy.
While there are several tackles who could be in the mix for New England if they pass on Campbell (Kelvin Banks, Josh Conerly Jr., Aireontae Ersery), Simmons was likely a first-round lock in this draft had he not suffered a severe knee injury in October.
There will be plenty of questions about Simmons’ health and whether his ceiling will be lowered coming off such an injury. But if he continues to build off the promise he showed during the early weeks of the 2024 season, New England could have a legitimate franchise tackle fall into their lap on Day 2 if the stars align.
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