Everything you need to know about the 2025 NFL Draft
This is the fourth time the Patriots have had the No. 4 pick and the first since 1994.
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The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night from Green Bay. Barring a trade, the Patriots will have a top-five pick for the second year in a row. Their No. 4 selection is a consolation from another season of ineptitude, in which they managed to win just four games.
The No. 1 pick was within reach, but in true 2024 Patriots fashion, they won a game they needed to lose, defeating the Bills in Week 18 to fall back three places.
This is the fourth time the Patriots have had the No. 4 pick and the first since 1994, when they selected Southern Cal linebacker Willie McGinest. McGinest went on to play 12 seasons in New England, making two Pro Bowls and winning three Super Bowls. He also holds the record for postseason sacks (16) and was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2015.
(The first inductee in the Patriots Hall? Pro Football Hall of Fame guard John Hannah, the No. 4 pick in 1973.)
It appears the Patriots are leaning the latter direction this time around and should be able to select the top lineman in the draft — LSU tackle Will Campbell, by most accounts, despite concerns over his arm length, or lack thereof.
Of course, should either Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter drop out of the top three, the Patriots will have an interesting decision to make.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility. All three teams picking ahead of the Patriots — the Titans, Browns, and Giants — could be in the market for a new quarterback. Tennessee, having had enough of Will Levis, appears ready to select Miami’s Cam Ward at No. 1. Ben Volin has Cleveland taking Hunter and New York grabbing Carter in his mock draft.
There’s a chance, as Nicole Yang mentioned in her look at the four scenarios the Patriots could face, that the Browns or Giants could take Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, but the expectation is both will pass on Sanders and may address the position later.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Dates, times, and schedule
Dates: Thursday, April 24, to Saturday, April 26
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
How to watch: NFL Network, NFL+, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Schedule
Round 1: Thursday, April 24, beginning at 8 p.m.
Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 25, beginning at 7 p.m.
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 26, beginning at noon
Teams will have 10 minutes to pick in the first round, seven minutes for round two, five minutes for rounds three through six, and four minutes for round seven.
First round order
1. Tennessee Titans (3-14 in 2024)
2. Cleveland Browns (3-14)
3. New York Giants (3-14)
4. New England Patriots (4-13)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
7. New York Jets (5-12)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-12)
9. New Orleans Saints (5-12)
10. Chicago Bears (5-12)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
13. Miami Dolphins (8-9)
14. Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
15. Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
18. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, lost NFC wild-card game)
20. Denver Broncos (10-7, lost AFC wild-card game)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, lost AFC wild-card game)
22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, lost AFC wild-card game)
23. Green Bay Packers (11-6, lost NFC wild-card game)
24. Minnesota Vikings (14-3, lost NFC wild-card game)
25. Houston Texans (10-7, lost AFC divisional game)
26. Los Angeles Rams (10-7, lost NFC divisional game)
27. Baltimore Ravens (12-5, lost AFC divisional game)
28. Detroit Lions (15-2, lost NFC divisional game)
29. Washington Commanders (12-5, lost NFC Championship game)
30. Buffalo Bills (13-4, lost AFC Championship game)
31. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, lost Super Bowl LIX)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, won Super Bowl LIX)
When do the Patriots pick?
The Patriots have nine picks, including two in the third, fifth, and seventh rounds. Their sixth-round selection was shipped to the LA Chargers as part of the J.C. Jackson trade in 2023.
Round 1: Pick 4
Round 2: Pick 38
Round 3: Pick 69
Round 3: Pick 77 (acquired from Atlanta in Matthew Judon trade)
Round 4: Pick 106
Round 5: Pick 144
Round 5: Pick 171 (acquired from Dallas in Joe Milton trade)
Round 7: Pick 220
Round 7: Pick 238 (acquired from Chargers in J.C. Jackson trade)
Locals in the draft
Christopher Price takes a look at 10 college prospects with New England connections who could hear their names called — or sign as undrafted free agents — on draft weekend.
Included are a pair of Norwell natives and Boston College offensive linemen whose fathers played in the NFL. Tackle Ozzy Trapilo is the son of former All-American and NFL veteran Steve Trapilo. Center Drew Kendall is the son of Weymouth native and former first-round pick Pete Kendall, who played 13 years in the NFL. Both could be intriguing options on Day 2 or 3 of the draft for a Patriots squad in need of help along the line.
Make your reads
Ben Volin | Sunday Football Notes: All roads lead to the Patriots taking LSU left tackle Will Campbell
Ben Volin | On football: Yes, the Patriots really should consider Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 4 pick
Chad Finn: Ranking the Patriots’ potential first round picks in order of preference
Julian Benbow: History says taking an offensive lineman at No. 4 in NFL Draft has been a safe selection
Nicole Yang: Is coach Mike Vrabel giving any hints as to what the Patriots might do in the NFL Draft?
The profiler
Price profiled prospects who have a chance to land with the Patriots at the top of the first round.
· LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell: Campbell indicated at the combine in February he’d be open to playing guard or tackle. It’s all about where he can make the biggest impact.
· Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter: Hunter offers tremendous value on both sides of the ball. If he struggles at one position, he could always flip.
· Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter: There aren’t many negatives in Carter’s game, but a stress fracture in his foot has dogged him throughout the pre-draft process.
· Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham: Graham is a smart, tough, physical player who could serve as the anchor of the defensive line for the next decade.
· Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty: Jeanty is clearly the best in this class, and has statistical comparisons with the great Barry Sanders.
· Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan: The 6-foot-4-inch, 219-pounder was a first-team AP All-American and is considered the best pure receiver in the draft.
· Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou: The 21-year-old was a second-team SEC honoree last season, starting 12 games and posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.4, third nationally among Power 4 offensive tackles.
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