Fixed offensive issues with star prospects

After beating the Jets last Sunday, which dropped them to the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots returned to the top of the draft after their loss to the Titans in Week 9 and were considered one of the worst all season so far Teams in the league and find themselves at the top again by the middle of the year.

That’s the only glimmer of hope that there will be more losses than wins, especially as we look ahead to next year’s draft, which begins in October.

But to be fair, the Patriots have mostly picked late in the first round over the last two decades because they’ve won so much, which makes the higher first-round picks a little more exciting now. It’s even more exciting now knowing that they appear to have found the quarterback of the future in Drake Maye and can now focus on building the offense around him.

That was the goal in this three-round mock draft after the Patriots’ last loss.

TRADE!

While the Patriots can select any player available with the first pick of the draft, it is more valuable for them to trade with a team that wants to select a quarterback. That team could be the Las Vegas Raiders, who missed out on getting their man last year and will certainly be looking for an upgrade next offseason.

As it stands, the AFC West team has the sixth overall pick, a great spot for the Patriots to return to and still get a player they need.

They could demand that the Raiders repeat the trade package the Panthers gave the Bears in 2023 by trading 2025 first-rounders as well as their 2025 second-round pick and future first- and second-round selections. Adding a player like tight end Michael Mayer would be the icing on the cake as he could join Hunter Henry and help form a dominant tight end duo in New England again.

Since they signed Brock Bowers earlier this year, they may be more willing to move on from Mayer already, which will benefit the Patriots.

Round 1: No. 6 pick

Despite being without two of the best receivers in their class in Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, the Patriots are still addressing a pressing need by acquiring their next starting left tackle from Texas.

Kelvin Blanks Jr. is a proven talent at left guard and allowed just three sacks and two hits in 2022 and 2023. He is a solid pass and run blocker, which the Patriots are currently lacking on their offensive line, and would be a starter on day one, immediately improving the offense for Drake Maye and the rest of the team.

At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he won’t be easy for defenders to get past, and his reliability at the position has been something New England has lacked in recent years. If prioritizing the build around Maye is the motivation for this draft, acquiring Blanks Jr. would be the best way to start the weekend.

Round 2: No. 33 pick

This could be a controversial decision since the Patriots already have a solid running back in Rhamondre Stevenson, but the chance to reunite halfback Omarion Hampton and Drake Maye is too good to pass up.

The 6-foot-1 running back had his best season to date in 2023 with Maye at quarterback, recording 253 carries for 1,504 yards, 15 touchdowns and an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Additionally, he added 29 receptions for 222 yards and another touchdown to his stats, proving that he is a dual-threat player that the Patriots would love.

Hampton is on track to have an even better season this year as he has already totaled 245 carries for 1,350 yards and 17 touchdowns and 29 receptions for 358 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He would be an undeniable weapon for Maye to work with again, and the chemistry they already have from their time at UNC makes picking him a no-brainer.

Round 2: No. 38 pick

To move away from the needy offense, it would be wise for the Patriots to add another dominant EDGE rusher to their defensive line. They could easily do this by using their newly acquired second-round pick to select Princely Umanmielen out of Ole Miss.

The outside tackle has yet to miss a game and has been a wrecking ball for the Rebels over the past three seasons. He recorded 21 sacks, 22 hits and 60 hurries, with more games to come this year.

Pairing him with Keion White, who thrived early this year and continues to show improvement every week, would make for a very scary defensive line for opposing offenses.

Round 3: No. 65 pick

It won’t be a popular decision for the Patriots to select a wide receiver until the third round, but the hope is that they go after a top free agent in the month before the draft. Therefore it will no longer be as urgently needed at design time.

Additionally, the receiving corps has shown some signs of life this year with Kayshon Boutte out in several games and Kendrick Bourne resurgent in Week 9, so all hope should not be lost heading into the 2025 offseason.

Separately, in this mock draft, the Patriots select wide receiver Kyren Lacy from LSU, a 6-foot-2 wideout who averages double-digit yards per catch. New England needs to fill the void on offense with a guy of Lacy’s caliber who is already having the best season of his college career in 2024, and he could be an excellent addition for Maye to work with.

Round 3: No. 85 pick

With the offensive line continuing to be the most vulnerable part of the offense this season, the Patriots should double-dip again in 2025 by selecting another tackle in the third round. But this time they are taking their next starting right tackle, Ajani Cornelius, from Oregon.

While the right side of the offensive line was not the dominant theme of the group, their best player, Mike Onwenu, was forced to play at another position for most of the season due to the lack of suitable talent on the roster. The addition of Cornelius would allow Onwenu to play where he performs best, right back, and give the rookie the opportunity to maintain the right attacking spot moving forward.

He has allowed just three sacks and just four hits in the last three years. He would immediately make Maye’s job a lot easier as he continues to struggle with the highest pressure rate in the entire league.

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