Eight playmakers the Patriots could target in Day 2 of NFL Draft
The Patriots could target a potent playmaker like Jayden Higgins or Jaylin Noel out of Iowa State.
The Patriots addressed their most pressing need on Thursday by adding a potential franchise left tackle in LSU’s Will Campbell.
But Eliot Wolf, Mike Vrabel, and the rest of New England’s top brass still have plenty of work to do when it comes to adding talent across the depth chart to a rebuilding Patriots roster.
Those efforts will continue on Friday night, as New England holds three picks in Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Patriots will land back on the clock in the second round (No. 38 overall) before selecting twice (No. 69, No. 77) in the third round. Even with the number of deficiencies across New England’s roster, the team should be able to unearth some value over these next two rounds.
Here’s a look at eight playmakers on both sides of the ball that New England could target on Friday.
WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
The Patriots added some pass-catchers this offseason between Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins.
But New England needs all of the help it can get when it comes to giving Drake Maye explosive targets moving forward.
Noel would seemingly fit the bill as an explosive athlete out of the slot. The 5-foot-10 wideout is coming off of a senior season with the Cyclones where he reeled in 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns — while also turning heads at the NFL Scouting Combine by posting a 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash.
Even though Noel was primarily utilized out of the slot at Iowa State, he was far from just a short-yardage target — averaging 14.9 yards per catch in 2024.
“When I first turned this guy on to watch, I said, ‘This is a faster Amon-Ra St. Brown,’” former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer said of Noel on NBC Sports Boston. “He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s explosive, he’s fast, he’s physical.”
WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Once tabbed as a first-round lock, Burden could represent some significant value to New England if he’s available at No. 38 overall.
Another slot option, Burden’s potential rests in his projection as an elite YAC (yards after catch) receiver out of the slot — as he reeled in 86 catches for 1,212 yards during the 2023 season. That production waned in 2024 (61 catches, 676 yards), but Burden’s athleticism paints the picture of a prospect who has the means to make an impact at the NFL level.
WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Unlike his teammate in Noel, Higgins projects as more of a boundary receiver — which could hold value on a Patriots roster that needs an athletic, deep-threat target for a strong-armed QB like Maye.
The 6-foot-4 Higgins produced throughout his four-year tenure at Iowa State (227 catches, 3,317 yards, 28 touchdowns), but he relied on more than just his imposing frame to fight off defensive backs.
He posted a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, while also recording a 39-inch vertical. Those physical tools were complemented by a refined play style, as he was only knocked for seven dropped balls during his collegiate career.
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Even with the offseason additions of Milton Williams and Harold Landry, New England could still use more pass-rushing talent — especially coming off a 2024 season where the team ranked last in the NFL with just 28 total sacks on the year.
Ezeiruaku would stand as a strong pick-up for New England, especially coming off a 2024 season under Bill O’Brien where the 6-foot-3 edge rusher racked up 16.5 sacks en route to winning 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
OLB/DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Once viewed as a potential top-15 pick, Scourton was a force as an explosive outside linebacker at Purdue — amassing 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss with the Boilermakers in 2023.
But the 6-foot-4 Scourton hurt his draft stock after transferring to Texas A&M in 2024, as he was tacked on an additional 20 pounds and was utilized as more of a defensive end with the Aggies. His stats dipped last season (five sacks), but Scourton dropped his weight from 285 to 257 pounds at the NFL Combine — falling in line with where he was during his time with Purdue.
If he can replicate what he was at Purdue, he could be an effective pass-rushing force at the next level.
TE Mason Taylor, LSU
The son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason Taylor could be a worthwhile investment for a Patriots tight-end grouping that, while talented, isn’t getting any younger between Hunter Henry (30 years old) and Austin Hooper (30 years old).
Taylor may not draw the same hype as other tight ends in this draft class like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, but the 6-foot-5 Taylor is the only TE in LSU program history to record both 100 catches and 1,000 career yards.
The 20-year-old Taylor had 55 catches and 546 yards for the Tigers last season, dropping just one pass all year. Other tight-end targets for New England include Miami’s Elijah Arroyo and Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. (117 catches, 1,555 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2025).
WR Jack Bech, TCU
A versatile pass-catcher, Bech’s play style was compared to Rams standout Puka Nacua by NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler. An athletic and competitive wideout, Bech elevated his draft stock after catching 62 passes for 1,034 yards at TCU in 2024. The 6-foot-1 Bech took home Senior Bowl MVP honors in February after catching a late fourth-quarter touchdown.
CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
If the Patriots are looking to add another ball-hawking talent to their secondary, Parrish would be an appealing option.
Parrish — who visited New England during the pre-draft process — has all the tools to be a dynamic playmaker at the NFL level, as he recorded seven pass breakups and one interception with the Wildcats in 2024.
Parrish would be a strong complement to a cornerback group already led by Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis — as he also turned heads at the NFL Combine with a 4.35 40-yard dash and a 37.5-inch vertical.
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